In a heart-stopping finish, the LSU women's basketball team experienced déjà vu with a buzzer-beating loss to Duke in the NCAA tournament regional semifinal. Ashlon Jackson's clutch 3-pointer sealed an 87-85 victory for the Blue Devils, echoing LSU's first loss of the season to Kentucky in a similar fashion.
Close encounters have been a theme for the Tigers, who faced five two-possession games against Sweet 16 teams this season. Friday's nail-biter marked their fourth loss in those matchups. Despite a previous 16-point win at Duke, LSU couldn't replicate that success in Sacramento.
The Tigers struggled defensively against Duke, allowing 87 points, a tally that's tough to overcome. Although LSU outshot Duke with a 47% field goal percentage compared to Duke's 43%, the Blue Devils capitalized on seven 3-pointers and dominated the offensive glass with 20 rebounds.
Jackson, who had been cold from beyond the arc, missing six of her previous seven attempts, found redemption with her game-winning shot. LSU nearly pulled off a comeback, fueled by their defensive intensity in the final stretch.
Taina Mair's 3-pointer put Duke up 83-73 with just over five minutes left, but LSU's defense clamped down, allowing only one Duke score-a single free throw by Toby Fournier-over the next five minutes. The Blue Devils missed seven straight shots and turned the ball over three times, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
With 18 seconds left, Jackson missed two crucial free throws, giving LSU an opportunity. Mikaylah Williams capitalized, sinking two free throws to give the Tigers an 85-84 edge. However, a missed 3-pointer by Mair led to a fortuitous out-of-bounds call for Duke, setting up Jackson's heroic shot with just two seconds on the clock.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with LSU holding only five leads throughout. Williams started strong with two free throws, but Duke responded with a 9-0 run, driven by Fournier. Trailing by as much as 11 in the second quarter, LSU clawed back to take brief leads in the third quarter, only to find themselves needing a late rally after Duke's three consecutive three-point plays in the fourth.
MiLaysia Fulwiley was a standout for LSU, pouring in a career-high 28 points, including 18 in the first half to keep the Tigers competitive. Williams added 22 points, while Flau’jae Johnson contributed 13 in her final game for LSU.
Despite a valiant effort, LSU's hopes for a third straight Final Four appearance under coach Kim Mulkey were dashed. The Tigers showed resilience but ultimately fell short in critical moments, a pattern that defined their season against top-tier opponents.