Maria Gakdeng's 22 points propel Tar Heels to first ranked win of the season

When Courtney Banghart watched Maria Gakdeng play at Boston College in December of 2021, the UNC women's basketball head coach had one thought:“This kid’s so annoying.”

Even against Banghart’s then-No. 25 Tar Heels, who would reach the Sweet 16 later that season, the 6-foot-3 center caused problems.

“We [couldn’t] even get a shot off,” Banghart said. 

Following Gakdeng’s entrance into the transfer portal after two seasons with the Eagles, Banghart’s thoughts shifted as the possibility of the once-annoying player donning a Carolina Blue uniform entered her head: “Oh my god. How is this possible?”

On Thursday night, Gakdeng tied her career-high of 22 points to help the Tar Heels achieve their first ranked win of the season against No. 25 Syracuse. In the 75-51 routing, the center recorded 15 points in the first half alone by consistently finding positions deep in the post. 

Just over a minute into the game, Gakdeng caught a pass from senior forward Alyssa Ustby positioned at the top of the arc. Using her left shoulder, the junior went to work on a Syracuse triple team, scoring the basket and earning a foul.

Not even a minute later, Ustby found Gakdeng again following an offensive rebound. Ready for the pass, Gakdeng immediately floated the shot in after establishing a favorable post position once again.

Ustby connected with Gakdeng deep in the paint three more times in the first quarter alone. Gakdeng attributes this to “knowing what she needed to do.”

Throughout the week, the Maryland native worked with her positioning coach, attempting to go over every detail before the game against Syracuse. Along with challenging herself to find deep position in the post, she attempted to perfect her finishes over both shoulders. 

However, this work didn't just start this week. Over the course of the season, Gakdeng has bonded with Ustby in practice. The pair spend many hours with one another perfecting in-the-post plays and developing in-game chemistry.

In Ustby’s words, they are in the trenches together.

“All of those things that take a little more attention, we’re with each other on that and so we are kind of there for each other,” she said. 

While ACC play has just started, Gakdeng and the team already have their eyes set on “big things.”

Gakdeng has never experienced March Madness. Banghart has never gotten past the Sweet 16. Now, with a coach who is willing to ask her to do more and a player wanting to do anything for a championship run, Gakdeng has become an even more annoying player for opponents – a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court.

“Knowing that I have to come every day and just bring a different level of what I was doing before has helped me grow as a player,” she said. 

Even in an entirely different environment at North Carolina, Banghart has quickly become aware of how coachable Gakdeng is and her consistent want to do more.

Now, with games under her belt and her role more solidified, the coach expects her to have an impact on each game — and hopefully propel the Tar Heels to another postseason run.

“She’s just gotten so much better,” Banghart said. “She’s on draft boards and she should be and she’s only going to get better.”

@_emmahmoon

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com