Duke Blue Devils Use Stellar Second Half to Capture ACC Title
from www.goduke.com:
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Duke sophomore Oluchi Okananwa capped an incredible ACC Tournament with a career-high matching 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the No. 11 Blue Devils to a convincing 76-62 victory over top seed and seventh-ranked NC State to capture the 2025 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament title.
Okananwa did it all for the Blue Devils, scoring 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-4 from distance, pulling in 10 rebounds and dishing four assists while committing zero turnovers. It is the fifth career double-double for Okananwa as Duke captured its first ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament crown since 2013. She was voted the Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Ashlon Jackson also added 22 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Duke trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half but used a commanding second-half performance to come away with the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
NC State held a 19-10 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play, using a pair of runs at the beginning and end of the period to earn the nine-point advantage.
The Blue Devils featured four different scorers in the quarter, led by Jackson and Okananwa.
Jackson and Okananwa kept the offense flowing in the second stanza, with the pair putting up seven points each en route to pacing the Blue Devils to 19 second quarter points. Trailing by as many as 13 late in the period, Duke went on an 11-5 run to cut the Wolfpack lead to seven, 36-29, at the half.
Okananwa knocked down a jumper with 53 seconds left and Jordan Wood sent Duke into the locker room on a high note with a triple from the corner with seven seconds remaining.
The Blue Devils carried that momentum into the third quarter, erupting for 24 points to outscore the Wolfpack by 14 and take a 53-46 lead into the final 10 minutes.
It was Jackson and Okananwa leading the charge for the Blue Devils, scoring seven points apiece. Okananwa was everywhere for Duke in the third quarter adding four rebounds and four assists.
The Blue Devils erupted for 24 points in the quarter, outscoring the Wolfpack by 14, Jackson and Okananwa once again leading the charge with seven points apiece. The Blue Devils closed the period on a 7-0 run to take a 53-46 advantage into the final period.
Duke never took its foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, getting a three-pointer from Okananwa on the opening possession for the 10-point lead. NC State fought valiantly, but the Blue Devils refused to let the Wolfpack back into the game, stretching the lead to as many as 18 points.
The Blue Devils held NC State to just 39 percent shooting and dominated the glass, 44-28, to post the 14-point win. The 62 points by the Wolfpack are 15 points below their season average.
UP NEXT:
The Blue Devils will await their fate for postseason action. The 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Basketball NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed during the Selection Show at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16, live on ESPN.