CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 16 North Carolina beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53 Thursday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge thanks to Reniya Kelly's 18 points. 

What You Need To Know

  • The 16th-ranked Tar Heels beat No. 14 Kentucky 72-53 Thursday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge 

  • The Tar Heels outscored Kentucky 42-10 in the paint and were led by Reniya Kelly with 18 points 

  • Kentucky returns home Monday to face Queens University

North Carolina opened the game on a 14-4 run, capped by Alyssa Ustby’s fifth 3-pointer of the season. The Tar Heels led 36-25 at halftime after holding the Wildcats to 36% shooting.

North Carolina only made one field goal in the opening five minutes of the third quarter as Kentucky got as close as seven points. But the Tar Heels made five field goals in the final five minutes to take a 50-39 lead into the fourth.

Kentucky’s opening four baskets of the fourth were from 3-point range to get within 60-51 with 5:52 left on Dazia Lawrence’s basket off a nice assist from Georgia Amoore on an inbounds play. North Carolina sealed it by scoring the next six points — all from the free-throw line.

Ustby scored 13 points with eight rebounds for North Carolina (8-1). The Tar Heels outscored Kentucky 42-10 in the paint.

Lawrence scored 17 points and Amelia Hassett had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Kentucky (7-1). Amoore added 10 points and eight assists and Clara Strack, averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game, was held to four points on 2-of-10 shooting.

North Carolina stays at home to play Coppin State Sunday. Kentucky returns home Monday to face Queens University. 

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