No. 2 seed Duke overcame an early deficit and a late Oregon push to secure a 59-53 victory in the NCAA Tournament round of 32, advancing to the program’s 19th Sweet 16. The Blue Devils (28-7) played without ACC Rookie of the Year Toby Fournier, whose absence was attributed to an undisclosed illness.
Junior guard Ashlon Jackson delivered a second-half masterpiece, scoring all 20 of her points—including five three-pointers—to lift Duke past a determined No. 10 seed Oregon (20-12). After trailing at halftime, Jackson’s offensive explosion in the third quarter gave Duke its largest lead at 10 points. The Ducks, led by Deja Kelly and 6-foot-8 center Phillipina Kyei, clawed back to within two points early in the fourth quarter, but Duke’s defense held firm in the final minutes.
Jackson’s clutch three-pointer with just over a minute remaining sealed the win, punctuated by her “night night” celebration à la Stephen Curry. A late steal by junior guard Taina Mair ensured Duke’s trip to Birmingham for the Sweet 16. The Blue Devils now await word on Fournier’s availability as they prepare for their next challenge.
