Carolina Rolls Past Western Illinois In NCAA Tournament Opener, 82-51

Friday, March 20

Chapel Hill, N.C.

5:30 PM

North Carolina

Western Illinois

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Carolina Rolls Past Western Illinois In NCAA Tournament Opener, 82-51

March 20, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score NCAA Tournament Central Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Hosting 13th-seeded Western Illinois in its 2026 NCAA Tournament opener, No. North Carolina's defense controlled the Leathernecks en route to an 82-51 victory at Carmichael Arena on Friday night. The Tar Heels advance to the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season.

North Carolina (27-7, 14-4 ACC) fought with a balanced attack against Western Illinois (26-6, 16-4 OVC) as the Leathernecks made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017. Four Tar Heels wrapped the night in double-figures with Nyla Harris leading the way with 17 points.

Recording her first career double-double in an NCAA Tournament game, Harris paced Carolina off the glass with 12 rebounds.

Lanie Grant was on fire from deep en route to 15 points, while Nyla Brooks tallied 14 points. Stuffing the stat sheet, Indya Nivar ran off to an 11-point, five-assist and four-steal performance.

The Carolina defense was on lock from the jump, posting three blocks and four steals in the first half. Defensive leader Indya Nivar was heavily involved in the action, stuffing two major Leatherneck shots. At the other end, Harris made her presence known in the paint, grabbing multiple offensive rebounds for the Tar Heels' second-chance points.

Grant and Brooks made it rain from the three-point arc, draining a combined four baskets in the first half. Off the bench, Brooks made an immediate impact with five points in the first quarter to propel the Tar Heels. Defensively, Carolina held Western Illinois to multiple scoring lulls to put North Carolina ahead 18-10 after the first frame.

In the second quarter, the Leathernecks gained momentum on defense to hold the Tar heels to a scoring drought to pull within a ten point deficit. Brooks found success on the floor in back-to-back trips to the rim. The Tar Heel defense continued to work, forcing a four-minute field goal drought at the end of the second quarter to extend their lead, 38-24 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Tar Heels continued to put their foot on the gas, hitting a 12-2 run at the beginning of the frame. Carolina outscored the Leathernecks 15-3 early in the half to extend the Tar Heel lead. Nivar led the way out of the half with seven points and grabbed three rebounds playing all 10 minutes of the quarter. Grant continued to pace the Tar Heels from long, hitting two more 3-pointers. Holding the Leathernecks to just nine points in the third quarter, North Carolina held a strong, 58-33 lead heading into the final frame.

Western Illinois found a bit of offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, hitting four of five shots in the midst of trying to surge back into the contest. Fighting back, Laila Hull shot a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc with assistance from Sydney Barker. North Carolina ended the final minutes of the game draining its last eight baskets to earn an 82-51 victory against Western Illinois.

The Tar Heels face former ACC rival in Maryland on Sunday from Carmichael Arena with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Sunday's game time from Carmichael Arena will be announced at a later time.