WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina Tar Heels delivered a commanding defensive performance and rode a dominant third-quarter surge to an 84-56 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball action Sunday at Joel Memorial Coliseum.

The Tar Heels, improving to 20-5 overall, held Wake Forest to 40% shooting from the field and forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 20 points. North Carolina’s offensive efficiency proved decisive, scoring 84 points on 71 possessions for a rating of 118.2, while the Demon Deacons managed just 56 points on the same number of trips for a rating of 78.8.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the third quarter, transforming what had been a competitive contest into a decisive rout. Leading 39-29 at halftime, North Carolina erupted with a 26-point third period, outscoring Wake Forest by 13. The Tar Heels’ defense stifled the Demon Deacons, holding them to 4-of-13 shooting in the quarter while forcing five turnovers.

The period was defined by North Carolina’s ability to generate offense from its defense and control the interior. Indya Nivar, who orchestrated the offense with seven assists and eight rebounds, keyed several transition opportunities. The Tar Heels’ frontcourt duo of Nyla Brooks and Nyla Harris took over, combining for 15 points in the quarter. Harris, in particular, was relentless, scoring nine points in the period on a series of layups and free throws, exploiting Wake Forest’s defensive lapses.

This surge extended a lead that had been built early. North Carolina opened the game with authority, sprinting to a 22-11 advantage after the first quarter. Wake Forest, which fell to 13-12, showed resilience in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 10 at the break behind Milan Brown’s playmaking. Brown finished with 13 points and three assists for the Demon Deacons.

Any hope of a home comeback was extinguished by North Carolina’s third-quarter blitz. The Tar Heels shot 48.4% from the field for the game and connected on 11 three-pointers, compared to just four for Wake Forest. North Carolina also dominated the glass, securing 14 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.

Brooks, named the top star for North Carolina, led all scorers with 21 points and added seven rebounds in just 25 minutes. Harris was equally formidable, contributing 19 points and five rebounds. Their interior presence, alongside Ciera Toomey’s seven points and six rebounds, overwhelmed a Wake Forest team that managed only five offensive rebounds all afternoon.

For Wake Forest, Brown’s 13 points led the way. Opal Bird added eight points, three rebounds, four assists and a block, while Emily Johns chipped in seven points and five rebounds off the bench. The Demon Deacons struggled from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 19 attempts.

North Carolina’s defense was a constant, tallying 13 steals, with Nivar and Laila Hull contributing three each. The Tar Heels’ length and activity disrupted Wake Forest’s offensive sets throughout, holding them to their second-lowest scoring output of the conference season.

The victory keeps North Carolina near the top of the ACC standings as they prepare for a pivotal stretch. They host SMU on Thursday before a nationally spotlighted rematch at Duke next Sunday. Wake Forest looks to regroup on the road, traveling to face Louisville on Thursday.

A crowd of 2,284 at Joel Coliseum saw the Tar Heels win their third consecutive game and cover the pregame spread as 16.5-point favorites. The total score of 140 points surpassed the over/under line of 127.5. According to Interstat’s ELO system, North Carolina entered with a 95.1% probability to win.