Louisville Outlasts North Carolina to Advance to ACC Tournament Championship

The second semifinal of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament featured a competitive battle between North Carolina and Louisville, with a trip to the championship game on the line.

Both teams struggled early to establish an offensive rhythm in the first quarter. After several empty possessions on both ends, Indya Nivar put North Carolina on the board with a driving layup at the 7:44 mark to give the Tar Heels a 2–0 lead. Louisville responded quickly with a turnaround jumper from Elif Istanbulluoglu, and the teams traded baskets for much of the opening period.

North Carolina found success from the perimeter with three-pointers from Elina Aarnisalo and Lanie Grant, but Louisville answered with outside shooting of its own, including a three from Reyna Scott. Late in the quarter, Imari Berry sparked the Cardinals’ offense, knocking down multiple three-pointers as Louisville closed the period on a run to take a 16–10 lead into the second quarter.

Louisville carried that momentum into the second. Istanbulluoglu extended the Cardinals’ lead to nine after converting an and-one opportunity in the paint. Mackenly Randolph then made an immediate impact, scoring on a pull-up jumper and finishing a fast-break layup off a North Carolina turnover to help Louisville maintain control.

North Carolina kept the game within reach behind its perimeter shooting. Lanie Grant connected from three, and Nyla Brooks added another from beyond the arc to trim the deficit. The Tar Heels also battled on the glass, creating second-chance opportunities. Nyla Harris scored on a putback before Brooks added a tip-in in the closing seconds of the half. Despite the late push, Louisville held a narrow 28–27 lead at halftime.

North Carolina’s offense became more efficient in the third quarter, improving its shooting from 37 percent in the first half to 57 percent during the period. The Tar Heels briefly regained the lead after a three-pointer from Grant and a layup from Nivar. Aarnisalo continued to guide North Carolina’s offense with a layup and a pair of free throws that kept the Tar Heels in front early.

Louisville responded midway through the quarter with strong interior play from Randolph and a three-pointer from Istanbulluoglu to swing momentum back to the Cardinals. Berry added a pull-up jumper and a second-chance three-pointer to help Louisville regain control. Laura Ziegler later connected from beyond the arc as the Cardinals built a five-point lead heading into the final period. Berry attempted a three at the buzzer to close the quarter, but the shot fell short as Louisville led 45–40.

Louisville maintained its advantage in the fourth quarter. Ziegler opened the period with another three-pointer, pushing the Cardinals’ lead to eight. Turnovers slowed North Carolina early in the quarter, allowing Louisville to stretch the margin to double digits after Anaya Hardy converted two free throws.

Aarnisalo continued to keep the Tar Heels within striking distance, scoring on a pull-up jumper and later finishing a driving layup. Nivar added points at the free-throw line, but Louisville consistently answered behind Berry’s scoring, including multiple mid-range jumpers and a second-chance basket that kept the Cardinals comfortably ahead.

North Carolina made one final push late with fast-break baskets from Grant and Harris along with a three-pointer from Brooks, but Louisville sealed the game at the free-throw line to secure a 65–57 victory.

With the win, Louisville advances to the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game, where the Cardinals will face Duke.