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No. 3 Duke holds on, beats LSU to advance to women's Sweet 16: Highlights
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- No. 3 Duke holds on, beats LSU to advance to women's Sweet 16: Highlights
SACRAMENTO, CA ― Duke guard Ashlon Jackson nailed a 3-point shot as time expired to send the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight.
The Blue Devils hang on to defeat LSU, 87-85, in the women's Sweet 16 on March 27.
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Before that shot, Jackson was 14% from 3-point distance. However, she remained calm, cool and collected.
She gathered herself before hitting her second three of the night, which took a few spins around the rim before dropping in the net.
"My teammates and my coaches, they trust me and they believe in me," Jackson told USA TODAY Sports. "Whenever shots aren't really falling for me, I can't really hang my head like that. That's just how the game goes. Every competitor knows that. But just having that faith from them and that belief from them, [is] really all I needed."
The game had all the makings of a instant classic. Mikaylah Williams tied it early with about 9:07 left in the game.
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Then, Duke took it to another level. The Blue Devils went on a 11-0 run in about two minutes of play. The bleeding stopped when Jada Richard netted a pull up jumper. LSU trailed 78-69 with 7:17 remaining.
LSU searched for answers but it was too much Duke. Taina Mair continued to do damage from deep. She added another step back 3-pointer, bringing her total to four on 50% shooting. She has 22 points in the game.
"Whatever this team needs me to do, I'm willing to do it," Mair told USA TODAY Sports. "Whether that's scoring, rebounding or just making the one more pass. I mean, I'm just willing to do what it takes to win. And when I have to be able to score. I mean, I'm gonna take that on full head on, you know. And I feel like I did that today with scoring and everything. I just had to do what it took to win."
Grace Knox fouled out with 3:41 left on loose ball as she was boxing out. LSU trailed 83-75.
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As time counted down, LSU rushed to narrow the gap. MiLaysia Fulwiley got to lane, hung in the air and finished a layup to bring the Tigers within seven.
She attacked the next LSU possession, was able to draw a foul and get to the line. She made both, their deficit was now five.
Tigers pressured the ball full court and were able to force a stop on Duke. Mikaylah Williams got herself a layup from Jada Richards. LSU trailed only three with under two minutes in the game.
LSU proved how much they wanted to win as Flau'jae Johnson went diving for a loose ball, landing in the front row of the media table.
On the ensuing possession, Johnson drew an offensive foul, illegal screen, as LSU got the ball back and scored on the other end, another lay from Williams.
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Johnson fouled Ashlon Jackson who could have iced the game, but she missed both free throws. LSU ball, down one with 18 seconds to go. Johnson went to the was blocked, Williams got the biggest offensive rebound of the game and went back up. She was fouled with nine seconds left on hit both free throws.
Duke hit the winning 3-pointer as time expired and will face UCLA in the Elite Eight on Sunday, March 29.
Here's how the game went between No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Duke in the NCAA Women's Tournament Sweet 16 round:
Between the lines
The makings of an instant classic seemed close when you glance at the box score. Although, the box score doesn't always tell the tale of the story.
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Both teams had 11 turnovers. They pulled down the same amount of rebounds, 41 apiece.
Shooting percentages and makes were nearly identical. Duke shot 42.5%, while LSU shot 46.5%. Duke hit 18 free throws, LSU made 16 free throws. Neither team shot well from distance. Blue Devils shot 26.9% but made more total threes, 7. The Tigers shot 37.5%, making 3-of-8 as a team.
Duke outlasted LSU on the offensive boards which proved to be the story of the game. Duke grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to LSU's 15.
Mulkey's message
With just minutes remaining to secure a spot in the Elite Eight, Flau'jae Johnson's final season with LSU hangs in the balance.
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As the Tigers headed into a timeout, head coach Kim Mulkey looked at Johnson and delivered a simple message: "Finish it." - Erin Kirby
End of 3Q: Duke 67, LSU 65
LSU drew first blood in the second half. Amiya Joyner hit a shot down low, assisted by MiLaysia Fulwiley. Flau'jae Johnson made just her second field goal of the game on a dribble pull-up at the right elbow.
Duke had a rough outing from distance but Taina Mair added one in the third. Her second of the game.
Fulwiley came up huge with a block on Toby Fournier to force a jump ball, possession LSU.
That set up a Mikaylah Williams drive and score, after contact. She hit the free throw to complete the three-point play. LSU took its first lead of the game, 53-52 with 6:37 left, since knocking down the game's opening free throws.
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Let the haymakers begin. Both teams traded baskets. First a Jordan Wood layup for Duke, then a Johnson scoop followed for LSU. Mair goes to line, knocks down both for the Blue Devils. Joyner is found underneath for a layup for the Tigers.
Mair hit her third triple-pointer. Duke got a stop and got out on the breakaway, a Wood layup. Johnson answers for LSU. With just under 4 minutes, Duke has a slim lead, 61-59.
Neither team would let up. After knocking down a pullup jumper inside the free throw line, Jada Richards got a key steal to force a shot-clock violation.
Johnson, continuing to settle into her game, get to the lane and finish, opposite of what she did in the first half.
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Mair went for a pull up before the third quarter sounded. LSU climbed back outscoring Duke in the period, 25-20, but trailed. Duke led 67-65 after three periods.
Message for the Tigers
The tape on the forehead of Duke's Blue Devil mascot is always a must-see when Durham's finest take the court. Today the band reads "Geaux Home" in attempt to poke fun at the Bayou Bengals' Cajun roots.
The Blue Devils are a half away from making those words a reality with their 47-40 lead. − Jack Littl e
Halftime: Duke 47, LSU 40
As Flau'jae Johnson's shooting woes continued, MiLaysia Fulwiley continued to get to her spots and capitalize. She opened the quarter with a slick behind the back dribble to squeeze in the lane for a scoop lay. She increased her total to 18 points.
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Duke continued to knock down buckets. They shot 56% in the first half as a team and led by as many as 11 points.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey could be seen fuming but LSU continued to chop away at the lead. Amiya Joyner matched Duke's physicality. Mikaylah Williams hit a deep ball. She had nine at half.
Toby Fournier led the way for Duke with 14 points, four rebounds and two steals. Helping her dominate the interior is Arianna Roberson, who nearly has a double-double at half, nine points, nine rebounds. Duke is outscoring LSU in the paint 26-20.
Deja vu to start?
Duke's early fireworks against LSU may feel familiar. The Blue Devils opened up a 17-3 lead over the Tigers when these teams met in December.
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After the early Duke run, LSU outscored the Blue Devils 31-19 in the second quarter en route to a 92-77 victory in Durham. − Jack Little
End of Q1: Duke 24, LSU 19
LSU got things going with the first points of the game, a couple of free throws from Mikaylah Williams. But they had trouble finding the cylinder early, shooting 29% in the first.
Free throws kept them alive.
As for Duke, LSU has no answer for Toby Fournier early on. The 6-foot-2 sophomore forward has relentless powered her way in the paint to help Duke build a 9-2 with 6:07 in the quarter.
Flau'jae Johnson didn't take her first shot until the 5:44 mark, drawing a foul. She split the pair of free throws.
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MiLaysia Fulwiley helped the Tigers climb back into the game with her scoring whether attacking the basket or connecting from long range. She scored 10 in the first quarter.
Duke center Arianna Roberson, a redshirt freshman, carried for Duke in the first quarter when Fournier got rest. Roberson scored nine in the period.
Duke's Fournier hits 200 free throws
Toby Fournier joined a prestigious list for Duke women's basketball. The sophomore forward shot her 200th free throw of the season in the first quarter of Duke's Sweet 16 matchup with LSU, becoming the seventh Blue Devil to cross the threshold in program history. − Olivia Sayer
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Duke Blue Devils' starting lineups
Here is the starting five for the No. 3-seed Duke Blue Devils during the Women's March Madness Sweet 16 round.
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Ashlon Jackson, guard, senior
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Riley Jackson, guard, redshirt sophomore
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Delaney Thomas, forward, junior
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Taina Mair, guard, senior
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Toby Fournier, forward, sophomore
LSU Tigers' starting lineups
Here's the starting five for the No. 2-seed LSU Tigers for the Women's March Madness Sweet 16 round.
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Flau'jae Johnson, guard, senior
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ZaKiyah Johnson, guard, freshman
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Mikaylah Williams, guard, junior
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Kate Koval, forward, sophomore
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Jada Richard, guard, sophomore
What time is No. 2 LSU vs No. 3 Duke Sweet 16 NCAA game?
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Date: Friday, March 27
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Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local)
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Location: Golden 1 Center
The LSU Tigers face-off against the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Tournament at 7 p.m. local time on Friday, March 27 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
No. 2 LSU vs No. 3 Duke: TV, streaming
Here's where you can find every Women's March Madness game including No. 2 LSU vs No. 3 Duke at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local).
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TV:ESPN
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Stream: ESPN Unlimited
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No. 3 Duke holds on, beats LSU to advance to women's Sweet 16: Highlights
