BIRMINGHAM, AL (WNCN) — More powerhouse programs go head-to-head this weekend during March Madness on Sunday afternoon.
The Duke Blue Devils face the South Carolina Gamecocks in an Elite 8 matchup that has turned into a battle of the Carolinas. Duke is seeded at No. 2, South Carolina at No. 1, in the Birmingham regional final of the women’s NCAA national tournament.
In their previous game against UNC, the Blue Devils had a poor shooting percentage at 31%, missing the first ten baskets. Then they got hot for the remainder of the game, led by Oluchi Okinawa with 12 points and Ashlon Jackson with 10 points in a low final score of 47-38.
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Duke guard Ashlon Jackson (3) drives to the basket against South Carolina forward Sania Feagin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) -
South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley drives to the basket against Duke forward Toby Fournier (35) as Duke guard Jadyn Donovan (4) and South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards, center right, watch during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) -
Duke guard Jadyn Donovan (4) drives against South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Duke plans to take their lessons learned from previous games to this game against a favorite to win the national championship.
“Definitely don’t want to be down 11 to South Carolina like we did against North Carolina,” guard/forward Jadyn Donovan said. “We know that we can get back, but it’s more about executing to make sure we don’t get down in that type of hole.”
While the Blue Devils lost to the Gamecocks in the regular season, 70-81, players have learned quite a bit since then.
“It just gave us that chip on our shoulders, the motivation to continue to push through,” guard Ashlon Jackson said. “We obviously don’t want to make the same mistakes like we did in those games.”
Speaking of history, the two head coaches have met before at multiple points in their decorated careers. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and Duke head coach Kara Lawson go way back to their WNBA days, including seasons where Dawn Staley suited up for the Houston Comets and Kara Lawson played for the Sacramento Monarch.
Tip-off for No. 2 Duke vs No.1 South Carolina is around 1 p.m. Sunday.