NCAAW

Western Illinois Leathernecks at North Carolina Tar Heels

· NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Regional 1 in Fort Worth - 1st Round

North Carolina Tar Heels and Western Illinois Leathernecks meet in the opening round of NCAA Tournament

Western Illinois Leathernecks' NCAA women's tournament preview

Western Illinois Leathernecks (26-5, 18-4 OVC) at North Carolina Tar Heels (26-7, 15-5 ACC)

Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Friday, 5:30 p.m. EDT

Tar Heels -26.5; over/under is 132.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 15 North Carolina plays Western Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Tar Heels' record in ACC games is 15-5, and their record is 11-2 in non-conference play. North Carolina scores 75.4 points and has outscored opponents by 16.4 points per game.

The Leathernecks are 18-4 in OVC play. Western Illinois ranks second in the OVC allowing 60.1 points while holding opponents to 37.3% shooting.

North Carolina makes 45.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.3 percentage points higher than Western Illinois has allowed to its opponents (37.3%). Western Illinois averages 16.9 more points per game (75.9) than North Carolina allows to opponents (59.0).

TOP PERFORMERS: Lanie Grant averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Tar Heels, scoring 10.6 points while shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc. Nyla Harris is averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Mia Nicastro is averaging 24.1 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Leathernecks. Addi Brownfield is averaging 12.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tar Heels: 8-2, averaging 74.1 points, 36.0 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 59.9 points per game.

Leathernecks: 8-2, averaging 73.3 points, 30.8 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 59.6 points.

How can I watch Leathernecks vs. Tar Heels?

  • TV Channel: Leathernecks vs Tar Heels 2021 College Basketball, week , is broadcasted on ESPNEWS.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Statistics

WIUWIU UNCUNC
W2 Streak L1
60.1 Points Against 59.0
75.9 Points Per Game 75.4
46 Field Goal % 46
35 Three Point % 36
35.5 Rebounds Per Game 39.5
12.6 Assists Per Game 16.0
3.3 Blocks Per Game 3.6
8.0 Steals Per Game 8.8
0.6 Team Turnovers Per Game 0.5
12.1 Total Turnovers Per Game 14.6

Game Information

Venue: Carmichael Arena

Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Capacity:

2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Standings

TEAM CONF GB OVER
Western Illinois 16-4 - 26-5
Lindenwood 16-4 - 25-8
Southern Indiana 14-6 2 21-10
Morehead State 13-7 3 18-14
Little Rock 11-9 5 15-16
UT Martin 9-11 7 13-17
Tennessee Tech 8-12 8 15-14
SIU Edwardsville 8-12 8 16-16
Southeast Missouri State 8-12 8 14-18
Tennessee State 4-16 12 5-24
Eastern Illinois 3-17 13 4-27

2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings

TEAM CONF GB OVER
Duke 16-2 - 24-8
Louisville 15-3 1 27-7
North Carolina 14-4 2 26-7
NC State 13-5 3 20-10
Syracuse 12-6 4 23-8
Virginia Tech 12-6 4 23-9
Notre Dame 12-6 4 22-10
Clemson 11-7 5 21-11
Virginia 11-7 5 20-11
California 9-9 7 20-14
Stanford 8-10 8 20-13
Miami 8-10 8 18-14
Georgia Tech 8-10 8 14-19
Florida State 5-13 11 10-21
Wake Forest 4-14 12 14-18
SMU 2-16 14 9-21
Pittsburgh 1-17 15 8-23
Boston College 1-17 15 5-26
Full Standings

Leathernecks Last 5

Date OPP Result
vs MORE MORE W 74-53
@ SIUE SIUE W 79-61
vs LIN LIN L 50-49
vs SEMO SEMO W 74-66
vs LIN LIN W 71-65

Tar Heels Last 5

Date OPP Result
vs PITT W 78-50
@ UVA W 82-70
vs DUKE W 74-69
vs VT W 85-68
vs LOU L 65-57