Aquinas graduate Lexi Donarski set to start 3rd game for No. 17 North Carolina

La Crosse native Lexi Donarski is set to make her third start for the 17th-ranked North Carolina women’s basketball team Wednesday morning.

The Tar Heels host Hampton at 10 a.m. Donarksi has started each of the first two games.

The 6-foot senior, who transferred from Iowa State over the offseason, is coming off a 35-minute, 15-point performance, including nailing 3 of 6 from beyond the arc in a 74-70 win for the Tar Heels (2-0) over Davidson.

North Carolina beat Gardner-Webb 102-49 to open the season. Donarski had 14 points in 19 minutes in that one.

Donarski averaged 12.1 points for the Cyclones last season, when she was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year.

The Aquinas High School graduate was Wisconsin’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, when she averaged 24.2 points. She led the Blugolds to four state tournaments and two state titles — her last season was cut short before the championship due to COVID-19.

Donarski was a McDonald’s All-American and also a member of the Jordan Brand Classic girls national team.