BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WNCN) — It was a low-scoring affair in the latest edition of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry, but the No. 2 Blue Devils pulled off another win to continue their 2025 NCAA Tournament campaign.
Duke defeated No. 3 UNC 47-38 in a Sweet 16 game in Birmingham Friday afternoon.
Oluchi Okananwa of the Blue Devils had a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Though both teams are known for their tenacious defense, neither team shot the ball well. The Blue Devils shot 31% from the field, while UNC shot 28.3%. Only two Duke players, Okananwa and Ashlon Jackson, scored in double-figures, while no Tar Heel reached that threshold. Alyssa Ustby’s nine points and 10 rebounds led UNC’s offense.
No. 2 Duke moves on to play in the Elite 8 Sunday in Birmingham.
The Blue Devils will make their 12th Elite 8 appearance in program history and will play either No. 1 seed and defending champion South Carolina or fourth-seeded Maryland, who were scheduled to play later Friday in Birmingham.
Okananwa scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half along with 10 rebounds off the bench for Duke, which got 26 points from its bench compared to North Carolina’s six. Jackson finished with 10 points, and Toby Fournier, Duke’s leading scorer this season who missed the second round with an illness, was held to three points.
Fifth-year senior Ustby had nine points on 3 of 10 shooting for the Tar Heels, who fell short in their attempt to advance to their first Elite 8 since 2014.
It was the first ever meeting in the NCAA tournament between the two teams, who have played each other 111 times. North Carolina still holds a slight 56-55 edge.