Duke Blue Devils Advance to ACC Quarterfinals with 70-58 Win over Georgia Tech
In a thrilling second-round matchup of the ACC Tournament, seventh-seeded Duke Blue Devils emerged victorious over 10th-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 70-58. The Blue Devils’ triumph was fueled by a dominant second-half performance, led by Kennedy Brown’s 14 points.
Brown, who had a quiet first half with only two points, exploded in the second half, scoring 12 points and helping Duke maintain a double-digit lead for the majority of the period. Her teammates also stepped up, with Oluchi Okanawa leading the scoring with 15 points and Ashlon Jackson adding 11 points, all in the pivotal second quarter.
Duke’s defense, which has been a cornerstone of their success this season, held Georgia Tech to just 37.7% shooting from the field and 3 of 12 from three-point range. The Blue Devils also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 42-27.
Tonie Morgan led Georgia Tech with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals, but her efforts were not enough to overcome Duke’s balanced attack and suffocating defense. Kara Dunn added 14 points and Rusne Augustinaite contributed 11 points for the Yellow Jackets.
Duke’s victory sets up a quarterfinal matchup against second-seeded North Carolina State on Friday night. The Blue Devils will look to continue their momentum and advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.