Top-seeded Duke took the lead in overtime and kept it to defeat the second-seeded Louisville 70-65 in overtime.
The Blue Devils tied the game in the fourth quarter with less than a minute remaining. “I told them to get an and one, miss the free throw, and then hit a three, and that’s what happened,” explained head coach Kara Lawson.
Louisville led at the half and most of the game. Duke battled back from an 11-point deficit in the first quarter to eventually tie the game on a put-back by Delaney Thomas before the end of the half. The Cardinals regained the lead on Imari Berry’s jumper just before the buzzer.
Clutch rebounding saved the day for the Blue Devils, according to Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz. “Their effort was elite,” said Walz. “They came up with the big ones when it mattered.”
Thomas’ rebound and score off a Riley Nelson miss cut the Cards’ lead to two with 45 seconds left in regulation. A foul on the rebound sent Thomas to the free-throw line and the next step in Lawson’s strategy. The junior forward’s planned miss was controlled by her teammate, Toby Fournier, who had the presence of mind to get the ball to Ashlon Jackson. The senior guard from tiny China, Texas, due west of Beaumont, found a wide open Riley Nelson who promptly buried a three to give Duke a 58-57 lead.
Mackenly Randolph’s layup off the inbound erased the lead four seconds later. Berry, who hit the big shot at the end of the first half, had an opportunity to push the lead to three from the free-throw line. Randolph knocked down the first shot but missed the second. Duke rebounded the miss and called a timeout to set up the game-tying play.
Louisville pressed out on the guards around the perimeter, allowing Thomas to settle in just outside the paint. Thomas cut to the hoop, the second Cards center Laura Ziegler and forward Elif Instanbulluoglu drifted outside of the paint. Jackson’s pass was right on target, clearing the path for Thomas to score with ease.
“Delaney has this unique ability to meet your needs,” said Lawson of her star forward. Thomas kept the momentum flowing for the blue and white with a pair of baskets to start overtime. Nelson knocked down another three to clinch the win.