Fri Mar 28 18:40:00 UTC 2025: **Duke Women’s Basketball Advances to Sweet 16 After Thrilling Victory Over Oregon**
DURHAM, N.C. — Ashlon Jackson’s explosive third-quarter performance propelled the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils to a 59-53 victory over the 10th-seeded Oregon Ducks in the second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament Sunday. Jackson led the charge with 20 points, 14 of which came in a dominant third quarter, securing Duke’s place in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.
Playing without leading scorer Toby Fournier, who was sidelined due to illness, Duke faced a challenging matchup against Oregon. The Ducks held a five-point lead at halftime, but Jackson’s hot shooting, including five 3-pointers, turned the tide. She orchestrated an 11-0 run and later contributed to a 16-1 spurt, giving Duke a commanding 10-point lead. Oregon struggled offensively in the third quarter, failing to make a field goal for the first six minutes.
Reigan Richardson added 13 points and Delaney Thomas chipped in 12 for Duke (28-7). Deja Kelly led Oregon (20-12) with 20 points, while Phillipina Kyei contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. Despite their efforts, Oregon couldn’t overcome Duke’s strong second-half surge.
Duke head coach Kara Lawson praised her team’s resilience, noting the difficulty of achieving back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances. This marks the first time the Blue Devils have reached this stage in consecutive seasons since their four-year Elite Eight run over a decade ago. The victory underscores Duke’s determination and marks a significant accomplishment for the program.
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