WBB Notebook: Ciera Toomey Owning Middle, Nyla Brooks' Hot-Shooting & More

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Ciera Toomey went to work this May when she went back home. Toomey had just completed her redshirt-freshman season at North Carolina, one in which she played more of a stretch-four role. She missed the entirety of her true freshman year after battling injuries, and she played behind posts Alyssa Ustby and Maria Gakdeng last season.

Toomey said she used the time back home to stay disciplined, get stronger and prepare herself for a bigger role at center. Now, the 6-foot-4 Toomey is owning the middle for the Tar Heels.

“I think that was big for me going into the work of the summer,” Toomey said on Sunday about getting stronger over the offseason. “So definitely that, and what we’ve been working on in my individuals changed a little bit because we knew this year I was going to have to be more of a ‘5’ player. So I think those two things together really just helped me a lot.”

Toomey scored a career-high 19 points against UNCG on Sunday in a 94-48 victory for North Carolina in Carmichael Arena, shooting 9-12 from the field. After that performance, she is now averaging 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game — all team-highs through six games. She’s shooting 63.8% from the field, 33.3% from three and 83.3% from the free throw line.

North Carolina has looked to Toomey in the post a lot more this season. Last year, she attempted 51 3-pointers, as long-distance shots accounted for nearly half of her field goal attempts. But the Tar Heels have her on the block more often, and she’s getting her points much closer to the basket. 

“​​It’s definitely a very different role than last year,” Toomey said. “I’m actually posting up this year and making moves inside and making an effort to score on the low block. So I think that initiative of, when I get the ball in there, just knowing that in a game like (Sunday), I have the advantage, and I can basically score whenever I get it down there and get a good shot for our team. I think just changing that mindset from last year to this year has really helped me.”

Growing up, Toomey was used to handling the ball. Even in high school when she got bigger, she had the ability to play with guard skills, which was a big reason she notched a five-star, top-four ranking coming out of Dunmore (Pa.).

Toomey recorded her first career double-double in the season-opener against North Carolina Central. She’s reached double-digit points in five of UNC’s first six games after scoring 10 or more points three times all of last season. The increased workload for Toomey in her second season of playing has led to a boost in production as well.

“It’s not just mindset,” Courtney Banghart said. “She’s gotten better in that area. Her mom was her coach, and anytime your kid is six-foot-five, you don’t want them to be stuck just playing behind the basket or near the basket. Her mom and I are good friends, and we joke that she gave me a kid that’s six-foot-five who doesn’t have a post move. But the amount of work that Ciera has put in to make herself a post player, as well as a stretch-four, is being celebrated, deservedly so.”

Nyla Brooks With A Perfect Seven

Nyla Brooks enjoyed a perfect day from the field against the Spartans, shooting 7-7 while making all three of her 3-point attempts.

Brooks had it going with her outside shot, as all of those makes came on catch-and-shoot opportunities. She made good on two turnaround fadeaway midrange jumpers, and her other two made shots were on layups.

“I would say the transition has been kind of smooth, because I’m a three-level scorer,” Brooks said on Sunday. “I’ve been scoring how I’ve been in high school. So just playing my game honestly, and trusting in the work I’ve been putting in.”

Brooks, standing 6-foot-1, came into UNC as a five-star recruit out of Alexandria (Va.) Bishop Ireton, and she’s continued to adjust to the collegiate level. An aggressive mindset when it comes to scoring has led to four games already in which she’s taken at least 10 shots. She played a season-low seven minutes against No. 3 UCLA and scored two points, but she’s scored at least 10 points in every other game.

So far, Brooks is averaging 11.8 points on 45.9% shooting. She’s come off the bench in all six games so far.

Brooks often gets matched up with Indya Nivar, UNC’s leader in steals at 3.3 per game, in practice. She said that getting covered by the veteran Nivar helps her when facing other defenders in games.

“With Indya guarding me, the game just comes to me,” Brooks said. “Because in the game, nobody’s really guarding like Indya. Indya’s probably, like Coach said, the best defender in college basketball right now.”

Tar Heels Spending Thanksgiving In Mexico

North Carolina will fly out to Mexico this week to take part in the Cancun Challenge at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. UNC is one of 10 teams participating in the event, though the teams are split into two tournaments. UNC will play in the Mayan Tournament with South Dakota State, Kansas State and Columbia.

This is UNC’s second-straight season leaving the country for a three-game tournament, as the Tar Heels won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas last year.

North Carolina is participating in the Cancun Challenge for the fourth time, with the previous appearances coming in 2005, 2013 and 2019. This is Banghart’s second time coaching the Tar Heels in the event, as the 2019-20 season was her first at North Carolina.

UNC is 6-1 in the Cancun Challenge, and 2-0 under Banghart.

Recent Results

North Carolina A&T: W 85-50

Indya Nivar: 14 points (5-7 FG), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Nyla Brooks: 14 points (4-11 3PT), 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Elina Aarnisalo: 13 points (6-8 FG), 3 steals, 2 assists

FG: 47.8% (33-69)
3PT: 35.3% (12-34)
FT: 70% (7-10)

UNCG: W 94-48

Ciera Toomey: 19 points (9-12 FG), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Nyla Brooks: 18 points (7-7 FG, 4-4 3PT), 2 steals
Taliyah Henderson: 13 points (6-7 FG), 3 steals

FG: 66.1% (39-59)
3PT: 60% (12-20)
FT: 80% (4-5)

Up Next

Thursday: Cancun Challenge vs. South Dakota State, 11 a.m.
Friday: Cancun Challenge vs. Kansas State, 11 a.m.
Saturday: Cancun Challenge vs. Columbia, 1:30 p.m.