CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Catherine Alben scored 18 points in 28 minutes in the Charleston Southern women's basketball team's first game of the 2024-25 season against the No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels on Monday morning.
 
The Tar Heels (1-0) outscored the Buccaneers (0-1) by 26 points in the final three quarters to take an 83-53 win inside Carmichael Arena.
 
Alben's three pointer with 5:35 left in the first quarter cut the Charleston Southern deficit to 11-8, and a layup by her with under a minute left made it 17-16 in favor of the Tar Heels in the closing minutes of the opening quarter.
 
North Carolina went on a run in the second quarter, outscoring Charleston Southern 18-7 to end the first half. They took a double-digit lead with 5:35 in the opening half on a three pointer.
 
The Tar Heels pushed their lead to 30 points with 5:35 to go in the fourth quarter and led by as much as 32 points in the second half. Tyonna Bailey led the team in rebounds with eight while adding 11 points off the bench. Keshunti Nichols was 5/10 shooting with 10 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.
 
Charleston Southern shot 33% from the field and 31% from beyond the arc throughout the game. UNC led the rebound department 46-34, as the Buccaneers had 21 defensive rebounds and 13 boards on offense.
 
The Buccaneers have a quick turnaround, as they travel to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina on Wednesday at 6 PM.