Second-seeded Duke women’s basketball held off a determined 10-seed Oregon squad, securing a 59-53 victory in the Round of 32 to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive year. The Blue Devils defended their home court at Cameron Indoor Stadium in front of an energized crowd.
Duke had to battle without leading scorer Toby Fournier, as the ACC Rookie of the Year was sidelined after not feeling well and being ruled out by team doctors.
Fournier’s absence was evident early on, as Oregon came out strong, taking a 12-9 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 28-23 by halftime.
Then came Ashlon Jackson’s second-half takeover. After going scoreless in the first half, the junior exploded for 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, igniting Duke’s offense and leading the team to victory.
Following Jackson’s electrifying performance, fans took to social media to praise her game-changing impact.
ASHLON JACKSON HIT THE NIGHT NIGHT 💤
The Blue Devils advance to their 19th Sweet 16 appearance 👏 pic.twitter.com/YRmGSDWg8L
— ESPN (@espn) March 23, 2025
Jackson’s highlight-worthy performance set social media abuzz, and the Blue Devils are now headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive season. Duke will be looking for redemption after falling to UConn 53-45 in last year’s Sweet Sixteen.
The Blue Devils could face their biggest rival in the next round of the tournament, as they await the winner of 3-seed North Carolina and 6-seed West Virginia. The Tar Heels and Mountaineers will battle tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Duke split its season series with North Carolina, falling 53-46 in Chapel Hill before bouncing back with a 68-53 victory at Cameron Indoor.
Meanwhile, the status of star freshman Toby Fournier remains uncertain, leaving head coach Kara Lawson and the team unsure of her availability for the next game. However, with Jackson leading the charge, the Blue Devils aim to keep their momentum going.
. @Ashlon3Jackson CALLED NIGHT NIGHT 😴 #MarchMadness x @DukeWBB x @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/ULoC0BDH6E
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 23, 2025
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