North Carolina rallies from 17-down to beat No. 5 Iowa State

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Deja Kelly scored 29 factors to energy No. 8 North Carolina to a 17-point comeback over No. 5 Iowa State and win 73-64 within the championship recreation of the Phil Knight Invitational event Sunday.

Kennedy Todd-Williams added 17 factors to assist the Tar Heels (6-0) full the comeback and stay undefeated on the season. Alyssa Ustby contributed 14 factors, 9 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

“We’re watching them grow to be a staff proper in entrance of our very eyes,” North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart mentioned. “Usually, that occurs on the apply courtroom. These guys are actually changing into a staff. We bought higher this weekend, and that was our aim.”

It was the third straight recreation that North Carolina trailed on the half earlier than rallying to win.

Stephanie Soares led the Cyclones (5-1) with 19 factors and 12 rebounds, whereas Ashley Joens had 18 factors and 9 rebounds as Iowa State suffered its first lack of the yr.

“We’re a staff that has to make pictures and we didn’t make many tonight,” mentioned Iowa State head coach Invoice Fennelly. “Quite a lot of work to do, however that’s what this event’s designed to do—discover out what you’re good at and discover out what you’re not so good at.”

Iowa State managed the sport all through the opening two intervals, taking a 35-22 lead into halftime behind 12 first-half factors and 9 rebounds from Soares.

The Cyclones led by as a lot as 17 within the second quarter, however after halftime the Tar Heels started to chip away on the deficit. A 15-0 fourth-quarter run gave North Carolina its first lead of the evening they usually by no means gave it again to Iowa State.

North Carolina bought scorching from 3-point vary within the second half and completed the sport taking pictures 43.8% (7-of-16) from deep.

Iowa State dominated the glass, outrebounding North Carolina 46-37.

After North Carolina accomplished its comeback within the championship recreation, Kelly was named MVP of the event.

BIG PICTURE:

North Carolina: The Tar Heels ran the desk within the PKI event to stay undefeated on the season.

Iowa State: The Cyclones had a blended exhibiting on the PKI event, dealing with No. 18 Oregon within the opening recreation earlier than blowing a 17-point result in the Tar Heels within the championship recreation.

UP NEXT:

Iowa State: The Cyclones return dwelling to face SIU Edwardsville on Tuesday.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels journey to Bloomington to face No. 6 Indiana on Thursday.

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AP ladies’s faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25