Defense Shines in No. 11 Duke’s 61-48 Win Over Louisville
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Balanced Play Powers No. 11 Duke Past Louisville, 59-46, into ACC Semifinals
Duke’s No. 11-ranked women’s basketball team relied on a strong team effort to defeat Louisville, 59-46, in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament at the First Horizon Coliseum on Friday night. Four Blue Devils scored in double figures as Duke advances to the semifinals, where they will face No. 2 seed Notre Dame on Saturday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Key Performances
Oluchi Okananwa led Duke with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Reigan Richardson added 12 points, including eight in the final quarter. Ashlon Jackson contributed 11 points, while Toby Fournier rounded out the quartet of double-digit scorers with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. Taina Mair also made an impact with 6 points, a season-high 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
How It Unfolded
The game began with both teams exchanging baskets, but Duke quickly gained momentum. Jackson opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the corner, and Fournier completed a tough finish through contact to give the Blue Devils a 7-4 lead at the 6:21 mark. Okananwa pushed the advantage to five with a layup, and Fournier’s putback helped Duke take an 11-7 lead into the first timeout. Both teams scored four points in the final minutes of the period, allowing the Blue Devils to maintain a 15-11 lead at the break.
In the second quarter, Okananwa hit a three-pointer, but the Blue Devils struggled offensively, going over five minutes without a field goal. However, their defense stayed strong, holding Louisville without a point for 6:33. Duke capitalized, building a 27-15 lead with 2:04 left in the half, fueled by Cardinal turnovers and Fournier’s free throws. Mair capped the first-half scoring with a step-back jumper, giving Duke its largest lead at 31-18 by halftime. The Blue Devils’ defense stifled Louisville, forcing 11 turnovers and holding the Cardinals to just 31% shooting.
Duke’s defense continued to dominate in the third quarter, expanding the lead to 22 points with just over three minutes left. Jackson hit two back-to-back threes, and Richardson and Fournier combined for the next five points to give the Blue Devils a commanding 43-21 lead. Louisville responded with a late push, scoring nine points in the final minutes of the quarter to trim the deficit to 15 heading into the fourth.
The Cardinals made a strong run in the final period, scoring the first seven points to pull within eight at 45-37, prompting Duke to call a timeout. After the break, the Blue Devils regrouped, scoring the next four points to extend the lead back to 12, and they never looked back, closing out the game with a 59-46 victory.
Game Notes
- Duke improves to 24-7 on the season, marking their 1,032nd program victory (1,032-462).
- Head coach Kara Lawson earned her 92nd career win, advancing to a 92-40 record (.697), needing just eight more wins to reach 100 career victories.
- The Blue Devils’ 52-38 all-time record in the ACC Tournament now includes a 21-19 mark in the quarterfinal round. Duke has won at least one game in 27 of its last 30 ACC Tournament appearances.
- Duke’s defense limited Louisville to 49 points and held them to 32% shooting. This marks the 13th time this season the Blue Devils have held an opponent under 50 points. Additionally, they forced 21 Louisville turnovers and registered 11 steals.
- The Blue Devils kept Louisville to just 7 points in the second quarter, their third-lowest quarter of the season, and the 18 first-half points marked a season-low for the Cardinals.
- Duke held Louisville 25 points below their season average of 73.1 points per game.
Individual Performances
- Oluchi Okananwa reached double figures for the 16th time this season, finishing with 13 points and 3 rebounds.
- Reigan Richardson posted her 15th double-digit scoring game, adding 3 rebounds and 2 assists, with eight of her points coming in the final quarter.
- Ashlon Jackson hit 3 three-pointers, finishing with 11 points, her 10th game this season with three or more triples.
- Toby Fournier reached double digits for the 20th time this season, contributing 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and narrowly missing a double-double.
- Taina Mair had a solid all-around performance, scoring 6 points, grabbing a season-high 7 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and recording 3 steals.
Next Up:
Duke will take on No. 2 seed Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament on March 8 at 2:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN2.
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Celebrating 50 Seasons of Duke Women’s Basketball
The 2024-25 season marks the 50th anniversary of Duke women’s basketball. Over the past five decades, the Blue Devils have built a proud tradition of excellence. Join us in celebrating this milestone season and the many accomplishments of the program. For more information, visit goduke.com/WBB50.