North Carolina guard Kennedy Todd-Williams (3) and forward Anya Poole, right, celebrate during a women’s college basketball game in the NCAA tournament hosted in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2022.
Arizona guard Shaina Pellington (1) sets up the offense while North Carolina guard Carlie Littlefield (2) defends during their game in the NCAA basketball tournament in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2022.
North Carolina guard Alyssa Ustby, center, looks to pass the ball while surrounded by Arizona defenders during a women’s college basketball game in the NCAA tournament hosted in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2022.
North Carolina guard Kennedy Todd-Williams (3) gets her hand on a pass from Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) during a women’s college basketball game in the NCAA tournament hosted in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2022.
Arizona forward Sam Thomas sets up for a wide open 3-point basket against North Carolina during a women’s college basketball game in the NCAA tournament hosted in Tucson, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2022.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — North Carolina’s players locked arms and kicked in unison as the band played the school fight song in an otherwise-deflated McKale Center. The kick line broke apart, turning in a mosh pit of dancing, the small contingent of fans in power blue roaring in approval.
Courtney Banghart’s rebuilding project has been fast-tracked — and it sure feels sweet.
Kennedy Todd-Williams scored 19 points, Deja Kelly added 15 and North Carolina overwhelmed Arizona 63-45 Monday night to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in seven years.
“It’s remarkable,” said Banghart, her hair drenched from the locker room celebration. “Led by Deja, they really had to take a chance with the program in a bit of turmoil. We had to kind of piece it together because it’s early in our rebirth and these guys worked really hard.”
Banghart left Princeton to take over a North Carolina program fighting through a tumultuous period after Sylvia Hatchell resigned in 2019.
She quickly molded the Tar Heels back into a national power, taking them to the NCAA Tournament in her second season.
Seeded fifth in the Greensboro Region this year, the Tar Heels (25-6) needed a big fourth quarter to beat in Stephen F. Austin in their opener on Saturday, but smothered Arizona from the start. North Carolina went on a 15-0 run to lead by nine at halftime, then stretched it 20 with a dominating third quarter.
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