Lexi Donarski scored 20 points and 14th-ranked North Carolina rallied from a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat upset-minded Boston College 78-71 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament’s second round Thursday at Greensboro, N.C.
Indya Nivar had 14 points for the Tar Heels. Aylssa Ustby, who played for the first time since Feb. 16 because of an injury, and Lanie Grant each had 11 points. Donarski made five 3-pointers and reached the 20-point mark for the first time since Nov. 7. Guard Reniya Kelly remained out with an injury.
North Carolina (26-6), which is seeded fifth in the tournament, faces No. 22 Florida State, the fourth seed, in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Tatum Greene had 18 points and Kaylah Ivey posted 15 points on five 3-pointers for No. 12 seed Boston College (16-17), which made 12 of 26 shots from 3-point range.
The Eagles scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to go up 63-54 before North Carolina responded with seven straight points in a span of less than two minutes. Nivar’s three-point play with 3:07 left put the Tar Heels ahead 68-66 and they led the rest of the way.