CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings, the North Carolina women’s basketball team used a dominant first half and a resilient closing run to hold off a furious Maryland comeback, securing a 74-66 victory Sunday at the Dean Smith Center.

The Tar Heels, improving to 28-7, built a commanding 42-33 halftime lead behind a blistering offensive start, only to see the Terrapins claw all the way back to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. North Carolina’s response in the final minutes, however, sealed the win in front of 2,470 fans.

The game’s most critical sequence came late in the fourth quarter with the outcome hanging in the balance. After Maryland’s Oluchi Okananwa converted a layup to cut North Carolina’s lead to 70-66 with 34 seconds remaining, the Tar Heels executed perfectly under pressure. Following a full timeout, Lanie Grant was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to push the lead back to six.

Maryland’s ensuing possession resulted in a missed three-pointer, and North Carolina secured the defensive rebound. The Tar Heels then delivered the decisive blow, with Nyla Brooks finding Nyla Harris for a layup with just nine seconds left, extending the lead to 74-66 and extinguishing Maryland’s hopes.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves. North Carolina raced out to a 22-17 lead after the first quarter and extended it by halftime, largely powered by the duo of Elina Aarnisalo and Lanie Grant. Aarnisalo, a guard from Helsinki, Finland, finished with a game-high 21 points, while Grant from Midlothian, Virginia, added 20. Their combined first-half production provided the cushion North Carolina would desperately need later.

Maryland, which fell to 24-9, emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity after the break. The Terrapins held North Carolina to just eight points in the third quarter, staging a 17-8 period to tie the game at 50 heading into the final frame. The surge was fueled by Okananwa, who matched Aarnisalo with 21 points, and Mir McLean, who added 12 points and several key defensive plays.

The Terrapins briefly seized their first lead since the game’s opening minutes early in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for the tense finish. North Carolina, however, reclaimed control by dominating inside, outscoring Maryland 44-34 in the paint and scoring 24 points in the final quarter to close out the game.

Indya Nivar provided crucial support for the Tar Heels with 11 points, and Nyla Harris contributed 14 points and strong interior play. For Maryland, Addi Mack scored 13 points and Kyndal Walker added 10.

North Carolina entered the game as a pregame favorite and outperformed statistical projections that gave them a 73% probability to win. The total score of 140 fell under the betting over/under line of 136.5.

The victory capped a regular season for North Carolina that included notable wins over Duke and Virginia Tech, while Maryland’s season featured a significant road win at Ohio State and a narrow double-overtime loss to Washington. Both teams now look ahead to postseason play, with North Carolina solidifying its resume and Maryland seeking to build on the resilience shown in its second-half rally.