In Durham, North Carolina, Ashlon Jackson took center stage by scoring 14 out of her 20 total points during a decisive third quarter, propelling second-seeded Duke to a 59-53 victory over tenth-seeded Oregon in the women’s NCAA Tournament second round on Sunday.
Without their leading scorer Toby Fournier, Duke (28-7) faced a considerable challenge. Fournier, a key player averaging 13.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, was unable to participate because she “wasn’t feeling well,” according to Blue Devils’ coach Kara Lawson. The 6-foot-2 Canadian forward and Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year did not receive clearance from team doctors to take part in the game.
“We only became aware right before tip-off. That’s just how it happens,” Lawson remarked. “I don’t have details regarding her diagnosis or a recovery timeline.”
Despite her absence, Jackson rose to the occasion, shooting 5 out of 9 from the 3-point range and pulling down four rebounds. Reigan Richardson contributed 13 points, and Delaney Thomas added 12 more for the Blue Devils.
On the opposing side, Oregon saw a solid performance by former North Carolina guard Deja Kelly, who logged 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Phillipina Kyei added 14 points and secured 13 rebounds for the Ducks (20-12).
Oregon held a five-point lead at halftime but was unable to maintain momentum in the third quarter, going six minutes without a field goal. Meanwhile, Jackson took control for Duke, making shot after shot.
“I got tired of missing. It’s simple,” Jackson explained. “But yeah, it felt good to see the shots dropping.”
Sparked by a 3-pointer assisted by Jadyn Donovan, Jackson initiated an 11-0 scoring run, steering Duke into the lead. She sealed a 16-1 Blue Devils spree with her fourth 3-pointer of the quarter, taking Duke’s advantage to double digits.
“We just fell short today,” reflected Oregon’s coach Kelly Graves. “The third quarter is usually where we shine, but today, Duke asserted themselves.”
Analyzing the gameplay, Oregon’s defense remained robust, yet their offense dwindled significantly in the third quarter, complicating their chance of a comeback. Despite narrowing the gap to a single point in the fourth, the deficit was insurmountable.
For Duke, this Sweet 16 advancement reflects the first back-to-back achievement in over a decade, last occurring during a consecutive run of Elite Eight appearances under former coach Joanne P. McCallie, concluding in 2013.
“It was a hard-fought contest, just as we predicted,” Lawson commented. “Moving to two straight Sweet 16s is a tough milestone that few programs achieve.”
Notably, Duke capitalized on Oregon’s mistakes, generating 18 points from 17 turnovers. The Blue Devils excel nationally in forcing turnovers, averaging 20.7 per game. Thomas was instrumental defensively with three steals, while Kelly from Oregon suffered five turnovers.
Duke is set to face the winner between third-seeded North Carolina and sixth-seeded West Virginia in Birmingham, Alabama for the Sweet 16 matchup.