What a night for Duke basketball fans, as both the men's and women's teams delivered thrilling performances.
First, the men's team edged out St. John's with an 80-75 victory, securing their spot in the Elite Eight. But the women's team wasn't about to be outdone.
Facing LSU, the Blue Devils found themselves in a nail-biter. After letting a nine-point lead slip away, they trailed by one with just 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Enter Ashlon Jackson. Off the inbounds pass, she made a quick move, executed a perfect pump-fake, and launched a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
The ball danced around the rim before dropping in, sealing an electrifying 87-85 win and sending Duke to the Elite Eight alongside the men.
Jackson's heroics were the talk of the night. "My teammates and my coaches, they trust me… Just having that faith from them, that belief from them, that’s all I needed," she shared post-game, capturing the essence of team trust and belief.
Head coach Kara Lawson can breathe a sigh of relief, as Jackson's buzzer-beater overshadowed what could have been a tough narrative about the team's late-game struggles. Instead, the focus is on their resilience and ability to deliver when it mattered most.
Looking ahead, Duke faces a formidable challenge in 1-seeded UCLA. The Bruins boast an impressive 34-1 record and handed Duke a 30-point loss earlier in the season. This matchup offers Lawson and her squad a shot at redemption, but they'll need more than just a single clutch moment to topple such a powerhouse.
It’s a thrilling time for Duke basketball, with both teams capturing the spirit and excitement of March Madness.