La Crosse native Donarski plays every minute in 24th-ranked North Carolina overtime loss to No. 17 Virginia Tech
La Crosse native Lexi Donarski didn’t leave the floor Sunday for the 24th-ranked North Carolina women’s basketball team in an overtime loss to No. 17 Virginia Tech, 70-61.
Donarski played all 45 minutes, scoring 12 on 5-for-11 shooting, adding three steals and two assists with no turnovers. It’s the fourth time this season she’s played the entire game — but first time that included OT. Four other times, she’s played all but two minutes.
The senior had a key steal with 40 seconds left in regulation that led to an Indya Nivar transition layup to tie the game 54-54, forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, however, after another Donarski steal led to a North Carolina basket — after an offensive rebound — that was the end of made field goals.
The Tar Heels shot 1-for-7 from the field in overtime, outscored 16-7.
Things were cold for North Carolina to start the game, as well — missing its first seven shots. But then, Donarski went on a 7-0 run all on her own, to pull the Tar Heels back to within 11-7.
They went into halftime, though, down 26-20, but came out of the third quarter tied 39-39 with a 19-13 run. Donarski had both of her 3-pointers during that stretch.
After nine wins in 10 games, North Carolina has now dropped three straight — two to Top 20 teams.
They get a week off now, before heading to Duke (14-7) on Sunday — a game that will be on the ACC Network through ESPN+.