Ashlon Jackson’s rim-circling 3-pointer as time expired gave third-seeded Duke an 87-85 win over second-seeded LSU in a roller-coaster Sweet 16 matchup on Friday in the Sacramento Region 2 nightcap.
The win sends Duke to the regional final on Sunday, when the Blue Devils will face top-seeded UCLA. The Bruins cruised past fourth-seeded Minnesota in the first Sweet 16 contest on Friday, 80-56.
Duke (27-8) led most of the night and by as many as 11 points, including a 78-67 edge in the fourth quarter after an 11-0 run.
LSU (29-6) rallied multiple times in the game. The teams exchanged the lead six times in the third quarter with their big spurt, punctuated with three consecutive converted and-one opportunities.
Facing another double-digit deficit in the final period, the Tigers chipped away again, however, holding Duke without a field goal for more than five minutes. LSU had an opportunity to take the lead with 37 seconds remaining after MiLaysia Fulwiley intercepted a pass near midcourt.
However, with the Blue Devils’ Taina Mair bearing down on her on the fastbreak, Fulwiley attempted a reverse layup going left-to-right that rimmed off. Duke regained possession, and LSU sent Jackson to the foul line — where she missed both attempts with 19 seconds left.
After a disputed ball knocked out of bounds, LSU pulled ahead on a pair of Mikaylah Williams free throws with nine seconds to go.
Mair had an open look at a corner 3-pointer on the ensuing Duke possession and missed, but in the scrum for the loose ball, it went out off LSU to set up the game-winning inbounds play.
Jackson sank a 3-pointer from the right wing to cap a 19-point night.
Fulwiley led all scorers, finishing with 28 points for LSU. She added four assists and four rebounds. Williams scored 22 points in the loss, and Flau’jae Johnson had 13.
–Field Level Media
