No. 10 seed Oregon Nearly Upset No. 2 Duke in NCAA Tournament
The blue Devils move on to Sweet Sixteen after a hard-fought contest.
On March 23, 2025, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, the Oregon Ducks faced off against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. The match was highly anticipated, as No. 10 seed Oregon sought to make a significant upset against the seasoned No. 2 seed Duke. The Ducks, with a record of 20-12, played a gutsy game but ultimately fell short, losing 59-53 to the Blue Devils, who improved their record to 28-7.
Oregon started strong, taking an early lead with a 7-2 score just 4:42 into the first quarter. The Ducks displayed their skills with impressive accuracy, shooting 50% in the first half compared to Duke’s 35.7%. Deja Kelly led Oregon's charge with nine points before halftime, while Reigan Richardson kept pace for Duke, also scoring nine points. Despite Duke struggling early and experiencing a scoring drought, they rallied back with insightful plays to edge ahead going into the second half with a 36-29 lead.
The third quarter saw Duke adapt their strategy, greatly outscoring Oregon 13-1, showcasing stellar three-point shooting and tightening their defense. Oregon attempted to counter the onslaught, and by the end of the period, they trailed narrowly at 45-40, setting up an intense fourth quarter.
As the final quarter unfolded, Oregon's Phillipina Kyei fought hard to bring her team back into the game, cutting Duke's lead to a mere point at 49-48 with 5:50 left on the clock. However, it was Duke’s Ashlon Jackson who took charge late in the game. With just a minute remaining, Jackson drained a crucial three-pointer that extended Duke's lead to 58-51. In a bold gesture, she signaled victory to her opponents with a “night night” celebration, clearly indicating her confidence at that moment. Her play proved pivotal, as it steered Duke toward a win.
Oregon’s Deja Kelly made an attempt to close the gap by drawing a foul with 29.2 seconds left, allowing her team a final chance to score before time expired. However, Oregon missed on their attempts for threes, and Duke regained possession with just 7.6 seconds remaining, sealing the game with a final score of 59-53.
The victory advances Duke to the Sweet Sixteen, where they will match up against the winner of the impending contest between UNC and West Virginia scheduled for Monday, March 24, 2025. Duke's successful performance keeps them on track as one of the favorites in this year's tournament.
The overall score and milestone plays resonate throughout the tournament as Oregon showcased significant potential but ultimately faced a seasoned and strategic opponent in Duke. The second-round matchup anticipated by many sports fans lived up to expectations, delivering an action-packed game worth remembering.
This contest highlighted the competitive spirit of women’s basketball this tournament season, thrilling fans and setting the stage for future matchups in the NCAA tournament.
