Top-ranked Northwestern defeated No. 2 North Carolina 14-11, using a relentless attacking wave to pull away from the Tar Heels in a battle of the nation's two best teams. The difference was simple: Northwestern found the back of the net when it mattered most, stringing together the kind of scoring run that separates champions from contenders.
The Wildcats' offense hummed with a balance that North Carolina simply couldn't neutralize. Every time the Tar Heels clawed back within reach, Northwestern had an answer — a dagger that kept the margin comfortable and the pressure mounting. For a North Carolina squad that entered at 19-2, this is the kind of loss that sharpens rather than shatters.
Both programs now have the regular-season tape they need. Expect these two to circle each other again come tournament time — and don't be surprised if the rematch is even tighter.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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