UNC Advances to Back-to-Back Sweet 16 Appearances

No. 4 seed North Carolina defeats No. 5 seed Maryland, 74-66, in NCAA Tournament second round

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:26pm

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The North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team defeated the Maryland Terrapins 74-66 on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This marks the Tar Heels' second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, the first time they've accomplished that feat since 2014-15. Sophomore guard Elina Aarnisalo led UNC with 21 points, while Nyla Harris and Lanie Grant combined for 34 points as the Tar Heels focused on attacking the paint rather than their usual 3-point shooting.

Why it matters

North Carolina's victory over Maryland extends their impressive home winning streak in NCAA Tournament games hosted at Carmichael Arena to 24 games dating back to 1987. The Tar Heels' ability to advance to consecutive Sweet 16s also showcases the program's sustained success and competitiveness at the national level.

The details

The Tar Heels shied away from their usual 3-point shooting, attempting only 11 triples, and instead found success attacking the basket. UNC shot 56.7% in the first half and 49.1% for the game, scoring 44 points in the paint. However, 15 turnovers in the first three quarters allowed Maryland to tie the game heading into the fourth. North Carolina cleaned up its ball-handling in the final period, committing just one turnover, and held the Terrapins to only one offensive rebound in the last three minutes to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
  • North Carolina has now won 26 of its 27 NCAA Tournament games hosted at Carmichael Arena, including a 24-game win streak dating back to 1987.

The players

Elina Aarnisalo

A sophomore guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who led the team with 21 points in the win over Maryland.

Nyla Harris

A Tar Heels player who combined with Lanie Grant to score 34 points, helping North Carolina find success attacking the paint.

Lanie Grant

A Tar Heels player who combined with Nyla Harris to score 34 points, helping North Carolina find success attacking the paint.

Indya Nivar

A Tar Heels guard who played the entire fourth quarter with four personal fouls, providing 11 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Tar Heels will head to Fort Worth, Texas to face the winner of No. 1 UConn and No. 9 Syracuse in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

The takeaway

North Carolina's victory over Maryland showcases the Tar Heels' ability to adapt their offensive approach and overcome adversity, as they shored up their ball-handling and defensive rebounding in the fourth quarter to secure the win and advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.