Richardson’s Career Night Propels Duke into Sweet 16

Sunday, March 24

Columbus, Ohio

12 p.m.

Duke University

22-11,11-7ACC

Ohio State

26-6,16-2Big Ten

Duke

Ohio St.

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Richardson’s Career Night Propels Duke into Sweet 16

3/24/2024 3:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Junior Reigan Richardson turned in a sensational performance by matching her career high with a game-high 28 points while pulling down seven rebounds as seventh-seeded Duke rallied from an early 16-point second quarter deficit to punch its ticket into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament following a 75-63 victory over No. 2-seed Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena.

Sophomores Ashlon Jackson (13) and Taina Mair (11) also finished in double figures for the Blue Devils (22-11) with Jackson adding four rebounds and three assists to her statline while Mair tallied four dimes and three boards.

Senior Kennedy Brown and rookie Delaney Thomas also provided solid contributions for Duke, who advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the 18th time in program lore and first since the 2017-18 campaign. Brown scored nine points and corralled five rebounds, while Thomas chipped in eight points and snagged eight boards in 27 minutes off the bench.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Ohio State held a 20-10 lead at the end of one, using an 8-0 spurt midway through the quarter to secure the early advantage.
Mair paced Duke with four points in the period with Oluchi Okananwa, Richardson and Thomas also contributing to the scoring.
The Blue Devils' offense started coming together in the second quarter, and they were able to cut the deficit to four, 36-32, at the break.
Duke shot 62 percent (8-for-13) from the floor and outscored the Buckeyes 22-16 over that 10-minute span.
Additionally, the Blue Devils closed the second quarter on a 12-2 run over the final 2:43 hitting eight of their last 10 shots. Defensively, the visitors held Ohio State without a point for the final 2:25 of the half.
Richardson and Jackson combined for 18 of Duke's points in the frame with Richardson netting 10 points and Jackson eight.
The Blue Devils finished the third quarter with a plus-five margin in the scoring column (19-14) and took their first lead of the game, 49-47, at the 1:49 mark after Thomas converted a finish in transition via a pretty feed from Jackson.
Duke held a 51-50 lead at the end of three and hit its last four shots from the field while holding Ohio State without a field goal over the last 4:42 of the quarter. Richardson scored six and Brown added four points of her own to pace six Blue Devil scorers in the frame.
Spearheaded by 10 fourth-quarter points from Richardson, the Blue Devils kept their foot on the gas in the final quarter, netting 24 points to the Buckeyes' 13 to put the finishing touches on the victory.

GAME NOTES

The Blue Devils had three players finish the game in double figures in Reigan Richardson (28), Ashlon Jackson (13) and Taina Mair (11).
Four different Duke players grabbed five or more caroms in the contest – Delaney Thomas (8), Richardson (7), Jadyn Donovan (6) and Kennedy Brown (5).
Duke knocked down its shots at a 51-percent clip, going 23-for-45 from the floor. The Blue Devils also shot 39 percent from distance (5-for-13) and 83 percent at the charity stripe, knocking down 24 of their 29 attempts.
Sunday's outing at the free throw line marked season highs in both makes and attempts.
Duke's 24 free throws checks in at No. 2 all-time at Duke for most free throws made in an NCAA Tournament game, trailing only the 26 makes against Western Kentucky on March 20, 2000.
The Blue Devils' 72.7-percent success rate from the field in the third quarter is tied for seventh in program lore.
Duke was a plus-22 on the scoreboard against Ohio State across the final three quarters as the team outscored the Buckeyes, 65-43, including a 43-27 advantage in the second half.
The Blue Devils dominated the rebound battle and finished the game with a plus-18 margin on the glass, 38-20. Duke also outscored the Buckeyes, 14-6, off the bench.
Thirteen of Duke's 23 field goals were assisted – a 57-percent assist rate.
Duke registered its 22nd game this season with at least five rejections.
The Blue Devils have now held 32 of 33 opponents this season below their respective season scoring averages. Ohio State's 63 points were 16.8 below its average of 79.8.

UP NEXT
Duke advances to the Sweet 16 in Portland, Ore., to take on the winner of No. 3-seed UConn and No. 6-seed Syracuse. The game is slated for Saturday, March 30 with tip time and TV designation to be determined.

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