University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Kansas State
Women's Basketball Returns To Action In Cancun, Challenging Kansas State Friday
November 27, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NO. 12/10 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (6-1, 0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 131-65 (7th season)
Career Record: 385-168 (19th season)
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (5-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Head Coach: Jeff Mittle (Missouri Western, 1989)
Record at Kansas State: 223-146 (12th season)
Career Record: 667-381
TIPPING OFF
• Opening its time in Cancun with a bang, Carolina ran off to defeat the defending Summit League champions in South Dakota State, 83-48 on Thursday morning.
• With its defense on lock, Carolina held the Jackrabbits to their fewest points scored in a game this season and cashing in 21 Jackrabbit turnovers for 31 points.
• It was Indya Nivar who was the star of the day, recording only the second triple-double in Carolina women's basketball history. By scoring 13 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and swiping 11 steals, Nivar is the second Tar Heel to achieve the feat and the first since Alyssa Ustby did so in 2023.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Entering Friday's game with a record of 5-3 overall, the Wildcats are coming off of a 2024-25 campaign which ended in an appearance in the Sweet 16.
In Thursday's narrow win over Columbia, Taryn Sides recorded a Kansas State game-high this year of 30 points.
Sides currently leads the Wildcats with 13.8 points per game, while Nastja Claessens is not far behind with 13.0 points and 6.0 boards per game.
The Wildcats were selected to finish seventh overall in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll.
SERIES HISTORY VS. KANSAS STATE
Carolina and Kansas State meet for the second time in program history and for the second in two seasons.
Kansas State claimed the lone previous meeting, defeating the Tar Heels, 63-53 at the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero Florida.
In the 2023 meeting, Indya Nivar scored eight points and snagged two steals, while Reniya Kelly added two points and one rebound.
CAROLINA IN MTE'S
For the second straight season, the Tar Heels grab their passports and head international for their MTE.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have claimed four multi-team event titles, the last being in 2024 at the Battle4Atlantis.
In MTE games in the Banghart era, UNC is 11-2 overall.
TAR HEELS IN MEXICO
Returning to Cancun for the first time since 2019, Carolina looks to continue its winning ways in Mexico.
In the first year under Banghart, the Tar Heels defeated Temple and Missouri to go 2-0 in paradise.
LAST TIME OUT
Carolina's defense powered its offense to an 83-48 victory over South Dakota State in its opening game of the 2025 Cancun Challenge.
With Indya Nivar leading the way, Carolina cruised to the 35 point victory.
HISTORY - WRITTEN
In a historic performance, Indya Nivar's triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 rebounds marked the second triple-double in the rich history of Carolina women's basketball.
Nivar joins former teammate Alyssa Ustby as the only two Tar Heels to achieve the feat.
Her 10 steals also etched her name again in the Carolina record books, matching the program single-game record set by Pam Leake in 1995.
Nivar is the first ACC player to record a triple-double this season, and the 49th in the the history of the conference.
By recording a triple-double with steals, Nivar is the fourth to accomplish the feat in the history of the league.
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
The offense is rocking and rolling for Carolina, scoring 80+ points in the last four games.
It's the longest 80+ scoring streak since the first five games of the 2020-21 season.
RAINING THREES
The three-ball is flying for the Tar Heels, as Carolina has knocked down 10 or more in each of their last three games.
Its the first time in the Banghart era that Carolina has achieved the feat.
Nyla Brooks is leading this charge, shooting 11-of-21 from deep in her last three outings.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Nyla Harris - 853 career points
- 147 away from 1,000.
WHAT'S NEXT
Carolina wraps up its time in Cancun, going head-to-head with Ivy League power Columbia on Saturday.
Tip vs. the Lions is set for 1:30 p.m. ET, streaming on FloHoops.
