Onalaska’s Donarski nails five 3s in 3rd quarter for Tar Heels, drops 19 in 5th and final NCAA tourney opener
An incredible opener — incredible third quarter — for Onalaska Lexi Donarski in her fifth and final NCAA tournament.
The Onalaska native nailed five 3-pointers and scored 17 of her game-high 19 points in the third quarter alone, as the 12th-ranked, third-seeded North Carolina women’s basketball team beat 14th-seed Oregon State 70-49.
North Carolina (28-7) will now face 16th-ranked and sixth-seed West Virginia (25-7).
Coming out of the locker room with a 26-24 lead, Donarski went on an 11-0 run herself. She finished the third 6-for-8 from the field — 5 of 6 from deep.
LET IT RAIN 🌧️
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) March 22, 2025
📺 | ESPNU pic.twitter.com/5MnYAOr1L8
Donarski ended 7 of 14 from the field, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. She added two steals, two assists, one rebound and had just one turnover.
It’s the sixth time this season Donarski has nailed five 3-pointers — though never in one quarter, of course.
Her career high is six from deep, which she’s done twice — once with the Tar Heels and the other time as a freshman at Iowa State.
This will be the fourth time in her career Donarski has made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Her sophomore year at ISU is the furthest she’s gotten — losing in Round 3.
Last season, the Tar Heels lost to eventual National Champions, South Carolina, in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Gamecocks were 34-0 in winning the title.
TOP PHOTO: Lexi Donarski (left) celebrates with her North Carolina teammate, in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 22, 2025 (PHOTO: @UNCWBB on X)