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UNC Advances to Sweet 16 with 74-66 Win Over Maryland
Tar Heels use fourth quarter execution, balanced scoring, and senior leadership to pull away late
Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:05pm
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The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Maryland Terrapins 74-66 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16. In a close game that was tied entering the fourth quarter, UNC used a strong final period, efficient offense, and key contributions from its senior leaders to pull away and secure the victory.
Why it matters
North Carolina's win over Maryland marks the second straight season the Tar Heels have advanced to the Sweet 16, showcasing the program's continued growth and development under head coach Courtney Banghart. With a young roster, UNC has relied on senior leadership and balanced scoring to overcome the loss of major production from last season.
The details
The game was tied 50-50 entering the fourth quarter, but UNC outscored Maryland 24-16 in the final period to pull away. The Tar Heels shot over 60% from the field in the fourth quarter and got key contributions from players like Lanie Grant and Nyla Harris to secure the victory. UNC did not rely heavily on the three-point shot, instead attacking the paint and scoring efficiently inside. Maryland struggled shooting the ball, finishing just 32% from the field and 3-of-23 from three-point range.
- The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
The players
Courtney Banghart
The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team.
Lanie Grant
A senior guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored 20 points in the win over Maryland.
Elina Aarnisalo
A senior forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels who led the team with 21 points in the victory.
Nyla Harris
A senior forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored 14 points in the game.
Indya Nivar
A senior guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored 11 points in her final game at Carmichael Arena.
What they’re saying
“We knew it would be a dog fight throughout the entire time. So even though we were up by double digits, we knew we couldn't let up. They gave us a good run, and we kind of just did a good job of absorbing that and not panicking, not trying to do too much, not getting away from the game plan.”
— Lanie Grant, Senior Guard
“Their defensive style gave us an opportunity to attack the paint and go one-on-one against them. There were times Lanie and I had the ball and saw the paint empty, and it's go time at that point.”
— Elina Aarnisalo, Senior Forward
“If no one is guarding you, find someone to guard you and go by them. We wanted to stay spaced and spread them out.”
— Courtney Banghart, Head Coach
What’s next
The Tar Heels will face the winner of No. 1 UConn and No. 9 Syracuse in the Sweet 16 on Friday. Tipoff time and television details will be announced after the completion of the second-round games.
The takeaway
North Carolina's balanced scoring, efficient offense, and senior leadership were the keys to the Tar Heels' victory over Maryland and their advancement to the Sweet 16. This young UNC team has continued to develop and improve throughout the season, showcasing the program's growth under head coach Courtney Banghart.
