In a tightly contested matchup during the NCAA Tournament Second Round, the 16th-ranked West Virginia women’s basketball team encountered a formidable challenge against third-seeded and 12th-ranked North Carolina. The game, held at Carmichael Arena on Monday night, concluded with North Carolina emerging victorious with a score of 58-47. The Mountaineers struggled to maintain an offensive rhythm, recording their lowest shooting percentage of the season at just 24.1%. Meanwhile, North Carolina managed a modest but effective 36.4% from the field.

Jordan Harrison, a junior guard for the Mountaineers, led her team with a total of 10 points, complemented by three rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Kyah Watson narrowly missed achieving a double-double with nine points and a remarkable 15 rebounds, setting a new program tournament record. Additionally, junior guard Sydney Shaw contributed eight points alongside three crucial steals. The first quarter saw both teams evenly matched at 12-12, yet North Carolina edged ahead by halftime with a slight lead of 24-21.

The Tar Heels maintained their momentum, outscoring the Mountaineers 21-17 in the third quarter and adding another 13 points in the final quarter to secure their victory by a margin of nine points. Despite the loss, West Virginia's recent success is noteworthy, having accumulated 50 wins over the last two seasons, marking the third highest tally in program history and the most successful start for any head coach in the school’s annals.

West Virginia concluded their season with an impressive 25-8 overall record. This marks only the fifth time in the program's history that they have achieved consecutive victories in the NCAA Tournament, a feat not accomplished since the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Their strong performance this year underscores the potential for continued success in future tournaments.