UNC Women's Basketball Falls at Duke, Tournament Outlook Uncertain

Tar Heels' eight-game conference winning streak ends as they battle back but can't overcome Blue Devils

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The No. 21 North Carolina women's basketball team fell to No. 11 Duke 72-67 on Sunday, ending the Tar Heels' eight-game ACC winning streak. Despite outscoring Duke 46-22 in the paint and holding the Blue Devils to 34.5% shooting in the second half, UNC was unable to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit. Junior guard Reniya Kelly missed her third straight game with a lower body injury, and the Tar Heels' NCAA Tournament outlook remains uncertain with four games left in the regular season.

Why it matters

This loss drops UNC to 10-4 in ACC play and puts their NCAA Tournament seeding in jeopardy, as they were not included in the initial top 16 tournament seeds announced over the weekend. The Tar Heels will need strong performances in their final four games, which include three Quad 1 opportunities, to boost their resume and secure a favorable seed on Selection Sunday.

The details

Despite dominating the paint and holding Duke to poor second-half shooting, UNC failed to attempt a single free throw in the game - a statistical anomaly that head coach Courtney Banghart called "almost embarrassing." The Tar Heels trailed by eight at halftime after the Blue Devils closed the first half on a 13-0 run, and UNC could never fully erase the deficit despite cutting it to a single possession four times in the second half.

  • UNC led Duke by five with 3:13 left in the first half before the Blue Devils went on a 13-0 run to end the half.
  • The Tar Heels outscored Duke 46-22 in the paint on Sunday afternoon.

The players

Courtney Banghart

The head coach of the North Carolina women's basketball team.

Ciera Toomey

A North Carolina player who led the team with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting.

Reniya Kelly

A junior guard for North Carolina who missed her third consecutive game with a lower body injury.

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What they’re saying

“I've been doing this for a long time, it's almost embarrassing. I've just never seen it, it's fascinating.”

— Courtney Banghart, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

Three of UNC's final four games present Quad 1 opportunities (at Virginia Tech, at Virginia, vs. Duke) for Carolina to boost its NCAA Tournament resume as Selection Sunday creeps closer. The Tar Heels' Q1 record currently sits at 1-4.

The takeaway

This loss puts UNC's NCAA Tournament seeding in jeopardy, as the Tar Heels were not included in the initial top 16 tournament seeds announced over the weekend. With four games left, including three Quad 1 matchups, UNC will need strong performances down the stretch to secure a favorable seed on Selection Sunday.