University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
25-6,14-4ACC
#12 Duke
21-8,16-2ACC
Tar Heels Topple No. 12 Duke In Senior Day Victory, 74-69
March 1, 2026 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — For the fifth time in a row, North Carolina women's basketball defeated Duke in Carmichael Arena in a back-and-forth game until the final quarter to come away victorious, 74-69. The No. 21 Tar Heels picked up their best-ranked win of the season in knocking off the No. 12 Blue Devils in the regular-season finale on Sunday.
No. 21 North Carolina (25-6, 14-4 ACC) and No.12 Duke met for the 113th time in the matinee meeting, with the Tar Heels now holding one more victory over the Blue Devils, 57- 56.
Led by Elina Aarnisalo for the second game in a row, Aarnisalo posted a career high 22 points, her second game in a row with 20 or more points, and the first Tar Heel to do so this season. Aarnisalo added seven rebounds and a team-high four assists. This was Aarnisalo's 15th game scoring 10 or more points and tied her personal best, making four from behind the arc.
In tandem with Aarnisalo, Nyla Harris posted a blistering 19 points and grabbed seven boards in her senior day appearance, as she has now tallied 21 games with scoring in double-figures and 22 games with more than five rebounds. In ACC action, Harris tallied double-figures in 14 out of 18 conference games.
At the glass, the Tar Heels were aggressive, outrebounding the Blue Devils 45-33, grabbing just four more offensive boards than Duke. Ciera Toomey was key off the boards for Carolina with a team-high eight rebounds.
The Blue Devils held off the Tar Heels in scoring from deep through the first half, allowing only two buckets from behind the arc. Duke, who leads the ACC in three-point percentage, started to struggle in the second half. North Carolina came out in the second half with six made baskets from long to shoot 42.9%.
Down the stretch, the Tar Heels reached the free-throw line multiple times to extend the North Carolina lead multiple times. The team knocked down 20 of its 27 free throws at a 74.1% clip. Harris was key in the lane, drawing fouls to reach the line multiple times to knock down nine free throws.
North Carolina had a slow start in the first five minutes of play, with the lone field goal courtesy of an Indya Nivar steal and score. After a short timeout, Harris got the scoring started down low with multiple baskets in the paint to cut into the Duke advantage.
In the final minutes of the first frame, the Tar Heels set the pace and cut the deficit to just one point after Aarnisalo hit a jumper to beat the buzzer. After the first quarter, the Blue Devils held a 14-13 lead.
Out of the break, Nyla Brooks drained one from deep to propel the North Carolina offense. A Laila Hull jumper gave the Tar Heels their first lead of the game early in the second quarter. On the inside, Nivar was drawing up plays in the paint to keep the score within reach.
Through the first half, the Blue Devils hit multiple three-point baskets to extend their lead and slow the North Carolina momentum. On the other end, Nivar was all over the court in the second frame causing disruption on defense with multiple steals and stealthy defense.
In transition, Nivar found an open Lanie Grant from three to add to the Tar Heel tally. The Carolina defense was on lock in the second quarter, holding the Blue Devils to a three-minute scoring lull. Duke held a small 31-29 lead heading into halftime.
North Carolina settled in from deep in the third quarter with multiple Tar Heels hitting shots from beyond the arc. Grant shot one out of the gate to take back the lead at 32-31. Ball movement came in clutch to find an open Toomey from deep. Aarnisalo then went on to hit a three-point shot from deep center to extend the North Carolina hold over Duke.
In the paint, Grant created contact to get the and-one call to get the Carmichael crowd roaring. Toomey recorded a block on the other end, marking her 50th this season as Duke struggled to find the basket. Aarnisalo once again beat the buzzer from deep to push the Tar Heels to a 52-47 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
The fourth frame was a physical one with multiple fouls called early on both sides of the court. Duke's free throws cut its deficit to just one point with 8:29 on the clock. Aarnisalo remained hot from three to keep up with the Blue Devil offense, with the lead swinging back and forth. The rivals were trading buckets down the stretch to keep the contest tight. With Aarnisalo hitting two free throws, the Tar Heels took the lead back with under four minutes to play.
With more fouls, multiple Tar Heels reached the charity stripe and knocked them down to extend the North Carolina lead with 15 total makes coming in the final quarter. While the Blue Devils drained a few shots in the final minute, the Tar Heels earned their way to their 14th ACC victory of the season, downing the Blue Devils 74-69.
