Strong performances in the sports world – and the unexpected – will typically earn teams and players recognition.

We’ve seen a lot of great storylines this year across all sports – Tommy DeVito’s run as starting quarterback for the New York Giants, the Texas Rangers going from Wild Card Team to World Series Champs, the University of Texas volleyball team repeating as NCAA Champions, plus many more.

One of the great college hoops storylines is the UNC women’s basketball team. Not only are the Tar Heels ranked 20th in the latest AP Poll and on a five-game winning streak, but two of those victories have come against ranked teams (Syracuse, Notre Dame).

This recent hot spurt, which started with a 60-point victory against Western Carolina on Dec. 15 last year, has landed UNC honors for ESPN’s Team of the Week.

Carolina’s first ranked victory in this stretch came against Syracuse on Thursday, Jan. 4 in Chapel Hill, with the women in sky blue dominating then-number 25 Syracuse by 24 points. On Sunday, Jan. 7, UNC took down 2-time National Champion Notre Dame on the road.

What makes UNC’s honor even more impressive is the fact it lost guard Kayla McPherson, a key rotation player who started the Kansas State, FGCU and and South Carolina games, for the season.

How long can the Tar Heels stay hot for?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire