Ashlon Jackson’s last-second three-pointer sends Duke to the Elite Eight

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Ashron Jackson captured the spotlight with a game-winning shot, propelling Duke into the Elite Eight.

On Friday night, Jackson sank a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, leading third-seeded Duke to an 87-85 victory over second-seeded LSU during the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

“Right now, it’s like I’m floating,” Jackson expressed.

Her remarkable shot from the wing, right in front of Duke’s bench, rolled just right, sending the Blue Devils into a frenzy. Jackson made a clever play, catching the ball and deceiving LSU defender Frajay Johnson.

“We haven’t had a winning moment like this. Sure, we’ve had buzzer-beaters before,” Jackson remarked, “but that shot—it was surreal. It felt like a dream repeating itself until it finally went in.”

Duke, with a record of 27-8, will take on top-seeded UCLA this Sunday in the Elite 8 for the Sacramento 2 Region, following UCLA’s win against Minnesota in another semifinal.

LSU, now at 29-6, had come back from being down by 11 points to grab the lead through Mikayla Williams’ two free throws with just 9.2 seconds to go. Taina Mare missed a 3-pointer from the corner with five seconds remaining, and the ball went out of bounds, awarded to LSU after a review. Williams was subsequently fouled and made both her free throws, briefly putting the Tigers ahead before Jackson’s last-second heroics.

Jackson finished the night with 19 points, while Maher and Toby Fournier each contributed 22.

Duke started the fourth quarter strong, holding an 11-point lead until LSU made it a tight game with a score of 84-83 just 19 seconds left on the clock. Jackson was fouled but unfortunately missed both free throws.

“It’s just basketball. I wanted to nail those free throws,” Jackson reflected. “You have to focus on the next play.”

Johnson moved into the lane but couldn’t score, and after Williams secured the rebound and was fouled, she made her two shots to give LSU the short-lived edge.

“We’ve been in tight circumstances before. Just seven-tenths away from a national championship—it’s tough to swallow,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “It’s hard on the players and fans alike. This kind of ending stings, and it takes a while to bounce back.”

For LSU, Milesia Fulwilly scored 28 points, while Williams added another 22 and Johnson ended his college career with 13 points.

Duke’s victory serves as a redemption for their earlier season loss to LSU during the ACC-SEC Challenge. The Blue Devils have since rebounded, winning 24 out of 26 games after that setback, which had brought them to a 3-6 record, ultimately leading to both the ACC regular season and tournament titles.

Duke’s strong offense, shooting 55% in the first quarter, granted them a 24-19 lead. By halftime, they were ahead 47-40, even as LSU struggled, except for Fulwilly’s standout performance with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

Meanwhile, Mulkey dismissed online speculation about her retirement following LSU’s season. “I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it. Do I really seem that out of sorts? I’m 63, healthy, and my doctor says I’m good,” she said, clad in a striking purple sequined suit.

Mulkey revealed plans to stay at LSU, stating, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m looking to hire some coaches and scout some players. I’ll take some time off to see my grandkids who missed the game.”