The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
North Carolina 71, Penn 60: Harpring’s career-high 30 powers Tar Heels
By Megan McCarthy
North Carolina overcame a determined Penn team and a record crowd at The Palestra, as freshman Kate Harpring delivered a career-high 30 points in the No. 23 Tar Heels’ 71-60 victory on Saturday.
Harpring played all 40 minutes and shot 11-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. She scored 19 points in the first half and finished with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
With her 30-point performance, Harpring tied the school freshman single-game scoring record. She became the first Tar Heel freshman to score 30 points since 2018 and the first Tar Heel overall to reach 30 since 2023.
Achol Akot added 16 points and eight rebounds for North Carolina, scoring 14 of her points in the second half. Reniya Kelly led the Tar Heels with five assists.
Penn was led by Mataya Gayle, who scored 24 points, and Tina Njike, who added 18.
North Carolina led 18-16 after the first quarter and 35-31 at halftime. The Tar Heels extended their lead to 50-45 after three quarters.
The game remained in reach early in the fourth quarter. North Carolina led 57-48 before Penn scored five straight points to pull within four. The Tar Heels answered with nine straight points, including five by Harpring. Her three-pointer made it 64-53 and gave her 30 points for the game.
The victory moved North Carolina to 2-2. Penn fell to 4-1, suffering its first loss of the season.
The game was the first meeting between the programs. The crowd of 2,714 was the largest ever for a Penn women’s game.
Megan McCarthy
Women’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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