Why UNC-Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Tournament is truly a blast from the past
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Maryland and North Carolina revisit an old ACC rivalry with Sweet 16 berth at stake.
- Both teams dominated the glass Friday with large rebound margins.
- Maryland’s veteran program under Frese returns to familiar Chapel Hill turf.
The North Carolina and Maryland women’s basketball players are too young to appreciate that their schools were charter Atlantic Coast Conference members. That was a long time ago in a sports galaxy ruled by regional affiliations rather than the lure of TV dollars.
But the Gen-Zers received a crash-course once Maryland, which left for the Big Ten in the 2014-15 sports season, was sent to Chapel Hill for the NCAA tournament’s first- and second round games. After fifth-seeded Maryland (24-8) and fourth-seeded North Carolina (27-7) both won Friday by 30-point-plus margins, the old rivals meet with a Sweet 16 berth on the line at noon Sunday at Carmichael Arena.
“Funny story about that,” said Maryland junior Oluchi Okananwa, who played for Duke last year when the Blue Devils lost to Maryland in an early regular-season game. “That was the first time I heard about the big rivalry. I was like, ‘They’re a rival?’ People were looking at me like I was crazy. That’s when I learned about history. Not just about Maryland being in the ACC, but about their dominance.”
Added Maryland freshman Addie Mack, “I’ve heard stories. I think one time Maryland played UNC four times in a season. I’m excited to be down here. This is a great opportunity for us to bring back a little of that ACC rivalry.”
North Carolina sophomore guard Elina Aarnisalo can be excused for not knowing the history. She’s a UCLA transfer and from Helsinki, Finland.
“I didn’t watch college sports my whole life,” she said.
But Lanie Grant, who scored 15 points with 4-of-10 3-pointers against Western Illinois, grew up in ACC territory.
“I think in the back of my mind I did know,” she said, “but I hadn’t really thought about it up until this moment that Maryland used to be an ACC team. It’s kind of cool it’s come full circle like that.”
The basketball traditions at both schools suggests the reunion live up to the past.
Maryland was ranked No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the Coaches poll after finishing tied for sixth with Michigan State in the Big Ten with an 11-7 conference mark. North Carolina’s rankings entering the tournament were No. 15 in both polls after placing third in the ACC.
The Tar Heels’ strong finish — winning 13 of 15 games entering the NCAA and now 14 of 16 — earned them the right to host for the first and second rounds. In Friday’s games, both teams dominated on the glass.
North Carolina’s board margin was 47-32 over No. 13 seed Western Illinois. Nyla Harris, a 6-2 senior, posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Maryland outrebounded 12th seeded Murray State 51-21. Mir McLean, a 5-11 guard as a graduate student, and Saylor Poffenbarger, a 6-2 redshirt senior, both finished with a double-double. McLean scored 19 points with 14 rebounds and Poffensbarger 10 and 11.
Okananwa, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, only scored seven points against Murray State, but that was a result of early foul trouble and the Terrapins being in control of the game. She only played 14 minutes.
“They’ve (the Terrapins) got hungry rebounders,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said. “They’ve got guys that pride themselves on that first, second and third step, and their first, second and third jump. So, if we area rebound instead of pursuit and contact rebound, it’s not going to go well. For either team, because we’re a problem on the glass, as well.”
Maryland coach Brenda Frese is in her 24th season at College Park, and the Terrapins are making their 22nd NCAA trip under her and 16th straight NCAA trip. The women’s basketball program has weathered the move to the Big Ten better than other Maryland sports. She doesn’t need a history lesson on Maryland-North Carolina.
“I was really excited,” said Frese of the learning the destination. “For me, coaching here, it’s a place that I know, I’m very familiar. You’ve been here numerous times. We’ve been able to get a lot of wins here. For me, it was really comfortable for our team.
“I knew, besides Oluchi, not anyone else had played here before. I’m excited to be able to go down there, find my favorite restaurant at Firebirds and find those special spots to be able to go eat at.”
At least TV money doesn’t rule out favorite restaurants.
This story was originally published March 21, 2026 at 4:24 PM.