Return to glory: Duke women’s basketball slays NC State for first ACC title in 12 years
Duke would not be denied — not on this court, not by rival N.C. State and not with an ACC title on the line.
One day after vanquishing second-seeded Notre Dame in an ACC Women’s Tournament semifinal, the third-ranked Blue Devils took down No. 1 seed N.C. State, 76-62, to win their first conference crown in 12 years, and first under head coach Kara Lawson. In her five years as head coach, Duke has become a title contender and now a champion.
“I’m glad I came into a situation where we were the worst team in the league, and we had to build it, because then you have to really think about foundationally what you’re going to be about,” Lawson said. “You have to think about how you’re going to build. It’s not a remodel, it’s a build.”
Duke has now avenged all four of its regular-season ACC losses, taking down UNC near the end of the regular season, and then Louisville, Notre Dame and N.C. State in succession to win the ACC title.
“I am excited to play N.C. State. The Triangle — it’s pretty special to have such great teams,” Duke’s Jadyn Donovan said before the game. “There’s no better place, I think, to play basketball than in North Carolina. It’s definitely exciting, and it’s definitely gonna be fun and a great atmosphere for both of us.”
The title game lived up to the hype.
N.C. State jumped out to a 7-0 lead, scoring five points on two early Duke turnovers. The Wolfpack built on its advantage quickly and used an 11-0 run — spanning the first and second quarters — to take a 14-point lead.
But Duke settled into the game late in the second quarter. The Blue Devils played with unmatched aggression and energy on both ends, led by a career-high 22 points from tournament MVP Oluchi Okananwa, who came off the bench to set the tone with 10 points and four rebounds in the first half alone.
The sophomore continued her impressive tournament weekend and started in the second half, finishing with 10 rebounds and four assists to go with her 22 points. Her impressive performance comes less than 24 hours after leading the Blue Devils past Notre Dame with 14 points and seven rebounds. Two days ago, Okananwa contributed 13 points in the Blue Devils’ win over Louisville.
Duke teammates Reigan Richardson called Okananwa the team’s “energy starter” and “motor,” while Toby Fournier called her a competitor.
“She knows how to play a game, she knows how to score a layup, she knows how to work,” Fournier said. “She’s always one of the hardest workers on the court. I knew this was gonna be that game for her. I knew what she was capable of, so I’m not surprised, but I’m super proud.”
Ashlon Jackson contributed 22 points in the Blue Devils’ win.
“We faced some of the best teams in the country three days in a row, when you look at the seasons that Louisville, Notre Dame and N.C. State have put together,” Lawson said. “To be able to come out as a champion is just very, very satisfying for our team that has worked hard all year. Had some ups, had some downs, but we were able to put it all together in a weekend. That’s what you want to be as a team in March that can put it all together, and we showed that.”
The Wolfpack went to the locker room with a seven-point halftime lead and had been 22-0 when holding a halftime advantage. The Blue Devils, however, returned to the floor with urgency they hadn’t shown for most of the first — and N.C. State’s defense struggled to get stops.
Duke controlled the transition game and backboard. It looked like a title-worthy team, a Final Four team, completely outworking the Pack in the third. The Blue Devils held N.C. State to 10 points and scored 24 of its own, and finished the third quarter with a 10-of-16 field goal efficiency and 14 rebounds. Comparatively, the Wolfpack scored three times on 15 attempts and pulled down just four rebounds.
With the big swing in momentum, Duke sprinted out to a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.
“Usually, we don’t come out too hot, and then we finish really good. This game, we came out hot, which is what you want, and then I think we just kind of laid down. The third quarter was really bad for us,” N.C. State guard Saniya Rivers said. “I think we got a little comfortable. We’re up like, six or seven in the first half, and then they came out, firing away, ready to go.”
Rebounding a factor
The Blue Devils tested the Wolfpack’s defensive rebounding skills. N.C. State entered the game ranked No. 2 in the ACC with 29.8 defensive boards per game. Duke, however, ranked No. 2 in the ACC for offensive rebounds (14.8).
Duke finished with 44 rebounds to the Wolfpack’s 27. The Blue Devils pulled down 14 boards on the offensive end and scored 13 second-chance points. Okananwa’s 10 rebounds led Duke’s effort, while Jackson contributed six.
“I love rebounding,” Okananwa said. “That’s something that my team expects from me. My coaches expect from me. I’m always gonna bring that.”
The Blue Devils knew they had to be tough off the backboard if they wanted a chance to upset N.C. State.
“(Our coaches) say that rebounds win games,” Jackson said. “We talked about that, in order for our team to have a chance, we have to continue to buckle down, try to get second chances, and have a defensive rebounds.”
N.C. State was held to zero fast break points, and Duke scored 11.
Pack runs through Rivers
Rivers led the Wolfpack on both ends of the floor. In the first quarter, Rivers contributed seven points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The senior made the Wolfpack’s first basket of the game, while hitting a 3 to put N.C. State up 13-5.
When Duke cut the Wolfpack lead to three points early in the third quarter, Rivers knocked down a triple to regain a two-possession lead.
Rivers contributed 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
“I think she’s done a better job of really trying to lock down on somebody instead of maybe always going for the steal,” Wes Moore said before the ACC Tournament. “Then, the assists, she sees the floor so well. With her height, she can see over the defense really easily. She’s not worried about it (scoring), but I know when we need it, she’ll be there.”
N.C. State guard Aziaha James said Rivers always steps up, and as one of the team’s veterans, that’s what they want.
“It’s expected for her. It’s not a surprise to anyone that Niya’s stepping up,” James said. “It’s just one of our leaders taking over.”
James injury impact
James, the Pack’s leading scorer, left the game with less than a minute remaining in the first half after stepping awkwardly out of bounds to avoid contact with Okananwa. James landed on the baseline and was carried off the court.
At the time of her departure, James had contributed 11 points, one rebound and one assist.
James did not warm up before the second half, but she walked onto the court on her own, and started the third quarter. She did not, however, look the same after the break. James finished with a team-high 18 points.
“It hurt a lot, but I wanted to be there for my team, so I tried to phase it out,” James said.
Rivers and Zamareya Jones also sustained minor injuries in the loss.
“Everybody has bumps and bruises to this time of the year,” Rivers said. “Obviously, we have a couple of days to recover. We have a couple of weeks until we play our first game in the NCAA tourney. I think we just take this time to rest and recover and recover mentally and physically.”
All-tournament honors
In addition to Okananwa’s MVP award, four players from Duke and N.C. State received ACC All-Tournament first team recognition. Jackson joined Okananwa on first team, while James, Rivers and Zoe Brooks earned nods for the Wolfpack.
“You don’t get to this position without the help of so many loved ones, starting with my teammates,” Okananwa said. “I really do play for them, truly, and the coaches who I would not be where I am without them and without their mentorship in my life. And, obviously, just loved ones from back home that keep on cheering you on so when you get to that moment. It’s kind of like, this was all for you guys.”
N.C. State’s Madison Hayes was named to the All-Tournament second team.
Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Olivia Miles (Notre Dame), Makayla Timpson (Florida State) and Marta Suarez (California) were also included on the second team.
This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Return to glory: Duke women’s basketball slays NC State for first ACC title in 12 years."
