RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — At least one Triangle-area college team will be going to the Elite 8 in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament as UNC, Duke and NC State all play Friday.
At least one of the local major universities will be playing in both of the women’s Sweet 16 games, including the ever-marquee rivalry matchup — UNC vs. Duke.
No. 3 UNC vs. No. 2 Duke
This is the third time that the Blue Devils and Tar Heels play each other this season, with their most recent game a month ago. Duke defeated UNC, 68-53, that day at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
As far as Friday’s tournament matchup, the ACC tournament champions Duke Blue Devils are coming from a close victory this past weekend over the Oregon Ducks by just 6 points. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels coasted against West Virginia, defeating the Mountaineers 58-47.
“We come ready to work,” UNC guard Lexi Donarski said. “We’re not done yet, and we’re not ready to be done yet, so we just gotta take it one day, one game at a time.”
Duke and UNC will tip off around 2:30 p.m. Friday.
No. 3 LSU vs. No. 2 NC State
Wes Moore and the Wolfpack will face Kim Mulkey and the Tigers in the nighttime matchup Friday. The last time they faced off was November 27, when LSU defeated NC State 82-65 at the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship game in Nassau.
The LSU Tigers, this year’s SEC tournament runner-ups, has been on a tear so far during March Madness, defeating San Diego State and Florida State by 55 points and 30 points respectively.
ACC tourney runner-ups NC State Wolfpack have also coasted through the first two rounds of the national tournament, pulling away against Vermont by 20 points and annihilating Michigan State, 83-49.
“As I like to say — they’re dogs,” Wes Moore, head coach of NC State said Thursday in a press conference about LSU players. “They’re going to get after you and play. You gotta be ready, try to slow down their transition, keep them off the boards. It’s going to be a challenge.”
The tipoff for LSU vs. NC State is around 7:30 p.m. Friday.