BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WNCN) — Duke women’s basketball has made a deep run into this year’s NCAA Tournament so far, but in order to get to the Final Four, they’ll have to knock out the defending champions.
The No. 2 Blue Devils (29-7) face No. 1 South Carolina (33-3) Sunday afternoon in an Elite 8 game in Birmingham, Ala. Tipoff at Legacy Arena at BJCC is set for 1 p.m.
To earn a spot in this game, Duke won a defensive battle against rival North Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Friday. In the low-scoring 47-38 win, Oluchi Okananwa had a double-double for the Blue Devils off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ashlon Jackson chipped in 10 points for Duke.
In their Sweet 16 game, the Gamecocks had to overcome No. 4 Maryland, outlasting them 71-67. South Carolina’s leader scorer in that game also came off that bench, as Milyasia Fulwiley dropped 23 for last year’s national champions. Chloe Kitts also had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The winner of Sunday’s game gets a berth in the Final Four in Tampa on Friday.