The storied Duke vs. North Carolina women’s basketball rivalry is on center stage to right now to open today’s Sweet 16 action in March Madness. It is the first time the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have met in the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Kara Lawson has the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season and going for their 12th Elite Eight appearance overall. Meanwhile, Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart has her program in the Sweet 16 for the 19th time overall with a shot at its eighth trip to the Elite Eight.
USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow along.
Duke vs. UNC women’s basketball results in 3Q
The Duke women’s basketball team holds a narrow 37-32 lead over UNC with about 1 minute left in the third. Oluchi Okananwa leads the Blue Devils with 10 points and Vanessa de Jesus has added 8. Indya Nivar leads the Tar Heels with 8 points while Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski each have 7.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA women’s basketball scores, schedules, teams and more.
Oluchi Okananwa stats
Duke guard Oluchi Okananwa has scored 10 points so far for the Blue Devils. She’s also grabbed 8 rebounds, including 2 offensive boards, and dished out an assist. She is 2-of-4 from 3.
Reigan Richardson splashes a 3 for Duke
UNC vs. Duke stats
The Tar Heels are 11-of-37 shooting so far while the Blue Devils are 14-of-36 shooting.
Alyssa Ustby stats
North Carolina guard Alyssa Ustby has 7 points on 2-of-6 shooting so far. She’s also grabbed 6 boards to go along with 2 assists.
Ashlon Jackson stats
Duke guard Ashlon Jackson is 1-of-6 shooting for 2 points so far against UNC. She came into Friday’s game averaging 12.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal per game.
UNC women’s basketball roster
The North Carolina women’s basketball team is led by the trio of forward Maria Gakdeng (11.1 points per game), guard Alyssa Ustby (10.9) and guard Lexi Donarski (10.8). Here’s the full Tar Heels roster.
Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball roster
The Duke women’s basketball team has a trio of players who average double digits in scoring: Forward Toby Fournier (13.4 points per game), guard Ashlon Jackson (12.5) and guard Oluchi Okananwa (10.2). Here is the full Blue Devils roster.
Duke vs. UNC women’s basketball halftime score
After a cold start to this Sweet 16 game, the Duke women’s basketball went into halftime with a 28-20 lead over UNC.
UNC women’s basketball leads Duke after 1Q
North Carolina’s Maria Gakdeng (2 points), Lexi Donarski (7 points) and Alyssa Ustby (7 points) powered the Tar Heels to a 13-9 lead after the first quarter.
Duke’s Kara Lawson makes early substitutions
Duke coach Kara Lawson subbed out Jadyn Donovan and Reigan Richardson with 6:41 left in the first, putting in Jordan Wood and Oluchi Okananwa.
Watch Duke vs. UNC on Fubo (free trial)
Duke vs. UNC women’s basketball starting lineups
- Duke: Delaney Thomas, Jadyn Donovan, Ashlon Jackson, Taina Mair, Reigan Richardson
- North Carolina: Indya Nivar, Alyssa Ustby, Maria Gakdeng, Reniya Kelly, Lexi Donarski
Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson can still hoop
Duke head coach Kara Lawson, who is trying to lead the Blue Devils to their 12th overall Elite Eight, had her own decorated playing career and, according to her players, still has plenty of game. When she needs it.
“She will lace them up and show us how it really goes when it comes to executing plays,” Blue Devils senior guard Reigan Richardson said. “Once in a while, she’ll go out there and shoot with us, just to prove she’s the best shooter in the gym.” Read the full story on Kara Lawson.
UNC women’s basketball coach Courtney Banghart rocking fresh Jordans
Duke vs. North Carolina women’s basketball predictions
- Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: Duke
- Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Duke
- Meghan L. Hall, For The Win: Duke
- Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: Duke
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UNC
- Cory Diaz, Lafayette Advertiser: Duke
- Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times: Duke
- Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic: Duke
NCAA women’s basketball schedule today
Eight teams are in action today. Here’s the full schedule.
Toby Fournier stats
Forward Toby Fournier averages 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The 6-foo-2 freshman shoots 53.2% from the floor, 67.1% from the free throw line and 38.5% from 3.
Where to watch Duke vs. North Carolina game
The Duke vs. UNC game is airing on ESPN.
UNC’s Alyssa Ustby is on journey through other Tar Heels sports
North Carolina senior Alyssa Ustby may be breaking Tar Heels women’s basketball records during March Madness, but she also wants to “shine light on other sports at UNC, because UNC is known as a basketball school and we get a lot of attention.”
Her idea to get eyes on other UNC sports? She began trying another sport for a day, then posting videos on Instagram. She asks her fellow UNC athletes to showcase their skills in their respective sports. Then, she mimics them herself — or at least she tries to.
Ustby has done this with 15 different teams, but she’s not stopping there. After the basketball season is over, she has scheduled times to test her skills on the baseball field and the track.
“That’s the whole point, is just to bring joy,” Ustby said.
Women’s basketball predictions for Sweet 16 games
Here are women’s Sweet 16 picks and predictions from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.
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