Duke women’s basketball has completed its revenge tour.
The No. 11-ranked Blue Devils answered each of its four ACC losses in the final month of the season, culminating in Sunday’s 76-62 win over No. 8 NC State in the 2025 women’s ACC basketball tournament championship game at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
It’s Duke‘s first ACC tournament championship since 2013, and the ninth in program history. It’s also the first for the program under fifth-year coach Kara Lawson.
Oluchi Okananwa and Ashlon Jackson each scored 22 points for the Blue Devils, who trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half but outscored NC State 47-26 in the second. Despite coming off the bench, Okananwa scored a career-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season.
After shooting just 36% from the field in the first half, Duke shot 55.2% in the second half while the defense limited NC State to 32.3% shooting. The Blue Devils defeated rival North Carolina on Feb. 27, before defeating Louisville on Friday, Notre Dame on Saturday and NC State on Sunday to avenge each of their four conference losses during the regular season.
Sunday marked Duke’s first conference tournament championship appearance since 2017. ESPN’s Charlie Creme projected the Blue Devils as the No. 3 seed entering the conference championship game. Sunday’s victory could give Duke a chance to move up to the No. 2 seed.
Check out all the scores, updates and highlights from the NC State-Duke women’s ACC basketball tournament:
For the first time since 2013, Duke is the women’s ACC tournament champion. The Blue Devils outscored the Wolfpack 47-26 in the second half to overcome a 14-point first half deficit. This is Duke’s ninth women’s ACC tournament championship.
Oluchi Okananwa and Ashlon Jackson each scored 22 points for Duke in the victory. The 22 points were a career high for Okananwa, who comes off the bench for the Blue Devils.
Duke is on a 13-1 scoring run over the last 3:39 and NC State has not scored in the last four minutes. The Blue Devils hold a 71-56 lead with 3:19 remaining as a result.
At the final media timeout of the game, Duke holds a 67-53 lead over NC State with 4:52 remaining. At the media timeout, a couple of calls will be looked at that could change the game. First is a potential flagrant foul on Delaney Thomas of swinging her elbows on an offensive foul on the play directly preceding the timeout.
The second is a potential shot clock violation by the Blue Devils earlier in the quarter. Jadyn Donovan did not appear to get her shot off before the clock expired. The score is now 65-53.
NC State held a 24-10 lead with 9:02 left in the second quarter. Since then, Duke has outscored the Wolfpack 43-22 to hold a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Duke outscored NC State 24-10 in the third period. Ashlon Jackson has 17 points for the Blue Devils, while Oluchi Okananwa has added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The momentum is fully with Duke now, holding its largest lead at 53-46 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter. NC State coach Wes Moore is forced to call a timeout to try and squash a 7-0 Blue Devil run. Duke has outscored NC State 24-10 in the third quarter.
NC State is shooting 3 of 14 in the third period with two turnovers. Duke has shot 10 of 16 in the third and upped its shooting percentage for the game to 44.9%.
Following a layup by Taina Mair, Duke has its first lead at 44-42 with 3:57 left in the third quarter. The Blue Devils, which has trailed by as many as 14 points, are on a 6-0 run and outscored NC State 15-6 to start the third quarter.
NC State is shooting 2 of 9 in the third quarter, while Duke is shooting 6 of 9.
Despite being carried off the court and then heading to the locker room on a wheelchair, Aziaha James starts the second half for the Wolfpack. On the first two possessions, she hit the court hard after falling down but showed no ill effects.
Duke wins the second quarter 19-17 to cut the NC State lead to 36-29 at halftime. Jordan Wood hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the half to cut the Wolfpack lead to seven.
While NC State has been in control throughout, there is a major concern with Aziaha James going down with a potential injury. James was hurt with 43 seconds left in the half and could not put any weight on her leg. She was escorted off the court and eventually taken off on a wheelchair.
Aziaha James is escorted off the court with a lower-body injury with 43 seconds left in the first half. James fell hard on a drive to the hoop, resulting in her falling out of bounds and turning the ball over for NC State. James was down for a couple of minutes before being helped off the court. She was taken on a wheelchair to the locker room after not being able to put any weight on her legs leaving the court.
NC State has to call a timeout with 7:29 left in the second quarter to avoid a 5-second out-of-bounds call. Other than that, it’s been all Wolfpack so far. It has led by as many as 14 and is up 24-12 going into the media timeout.
Aziaha James has an individual 5-0 run to start the second quarter with a quick jumper and a 3-pointer. NC State has its biggest lead at 24-10 and James now has eight points.
Duke has as many baskets as turnovers, with four in the first quarter. NC State shoots 50% from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, to build a 19-10 lead. The Blue Devils shoot 4 for 15 (26.7%) from the field. Saniya Rivers leads all scorers with seven points and Zoe Brooks has six.
Ashlon Jackson and Oluchi Okananwa each have three points for Duke.
NC State comes out on fire to start this one, leading 7-0 with 7:47 left in the first quarter at the first media timeout. Saniya Rivers opened the scoring with a layup on an assist from Aziaha James. James later hit a 3-pointer on a pull-up on a fastbreak to force the first timeout.
A clean sweep by the ESPN “College GameDay” crew as Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike all pick NC State to beat Duke for the ACC tournament championship.
The starting lineups for NC State-Duke have been revealed for today’s women’s ACC basketball tournament championship game. Here’s a look at both starting lineups:
NC State
Duke:
Former Duke women’s basketball star Elizabeth Williams joined ESPN’s “College GameDay” to preview the NC State-Duke conference championship game. Williams joked that she “will not listen to the NC State fight song today.”
According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, NC State enters today’s conference championship game as a No. 2 seed in the tournament. Meanwhile, Duke is currently a No. 3 seed. It’s unlikely for the Wolfpack to jump into a No. 1 seed with a win, but it’s not out of the question for the Blue Devils to jump NC State, or them it, for a No. 2 seed.
Sunday’s game marks the third time the Wolfpack and Blue Devils will face off in the women’s ACC basketball tournament championship game. Duke has won both prior matchups. The Blue Devils defeated the Wolfpack 57-45 in 2001 and 70-60 in 2010.
The 2025 women’s ACC basketball tournament championship game between the Wolfpack and Blue Devils will be played at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday, March 9.
The 2025 women’s ACC Conference tournament championship game between in-state rivals NC State and Duke will be broadcast on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
John Leuzzi, USA TODAY: NC State 70, Duke 61
“NC State crushes any hopes for Duke in recording a second straight upset and winning its first ACC title since 2013. Expect a big game out of Aziaha James again after she put up 36 points against the Blue Devils earlier this season.”
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 9:
Here’s a look at NC State’s last five results. To view the Wolfpack’s full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
Here’s a look at Duke’s last five results. To view the Blue Devils’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
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