Duke Knocks Off Tar Heels In 2025 NCAA Women’s Sweet 16, 47-38

On to the Elite Eight!

Duke and UNC had a low-scoring affair in the Sweet 16 but fortunately the Blue Devils came out on the better end of it, 47-38, sending their ACC rival home to prep for next season.

As Duke coach Kara Lawson said afterwards, it was a gritty game and that’s what she expected.

Neither team shot well. Duke hit 18-58 for 31 percent (and 5-24 for threes for 20.8 percent) while UNC shot 15-53 for 28.3 percent (and 3-11 from behind the line for 27.3 percent).

Duke was led by Oluchi Okunanwa, who had 12, and Ashlon Jackson with 10. Okananwa also had 12 rebounds.

In another bit of good news, ace freshman Toby Fournier, who was out the last game with illness, returned and played 17 minutes.

Duke is now 29-7 and will play South Carolina in the regional finals. Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse in Columbia and beating them will not be easy. However, you can only become the best by beating the best so we’ll see. These teams played in early December of course and while the Gamecocks won 81-70, it wasn’t as close as that suggests. Let’s see what the Blue Devils can do on Sunday.

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