CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball clash is set for Thursday when North Carolina visits Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena. The Tar Heels (23-6, 13-3 ACC), riding a three-game winning streak, look to solidify their conference standing against a surging Cavaliers (19-8, 10-6) squad that has won four of its last five. North Carolina, coming off a dominant 78-50 home victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, is led by standout guard Nyla Brooks. Brooks scored 18 points with six rebounds in that win and has been a consistent force, including a 21-point, seven-rebound performance in a win at Wake Forest on Feb. 8. Her defensive presence is also key, as she has recorded three blocks in a game twice this month. Virginia counters with its own dynamic guard in Paris Clark, who is coming off a complete performance in a 74-72 road win at Louisville. Clark nearly posted a triple-double with 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes. Her playmaking will be central to Virginia’s offense against a stout Tar Heels defense. The Cavaliers have shown resilience, with recent road wins at Stanford and Louisville, but will need to protect home court to enhance their NCAA tournament resume. North Carolina boasts a strong road record within the ACC, including an overtime win at Virginia Tech and a narrow two-point victory at NC State earlier this month. This matchup features contrasting styles: North Carolina’s balanced scoring and defensive pressure against Virginia’s offensive execution, which was on full display in a 109-103 triple-overtime shootout at Wake Forest in January. The outcome will carry significant weight for ACC Tournament seeding. Following this game, North Carolina hosts Duke on Sunday, while Virginia prepares for a Commonwealth clash against Virginia Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.