Duke seniors Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair each scored 14 points on Senior Day, leading the No. 11 Blue Devils past No. 21 North Carolina, 72-68, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 16 games. Duke improved to 19-6 overall and 14-0 in ACC play, the program’s best conference start since the 2012-13 team opened 15-0.
Jackson and Mair Deliver in Final Rivalry Game at Cameron
This was the kind of game veterans are supposed to win, and Jackson and Mair did exactly that. The Duke backcourt combined for 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists against the program’s biggest rival.
Mair’s stat line was particularly complete: 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. She controlled the game when the Blue Devils needed steadiness most, particularly in a fourth quarter where UNC cut the lead to two on multiple possessions but could never complete the comeback.
Duke coach Kara Lawson credited her senior guards for their poise down the stretch.
“Having two seniors in the backcourt gives me a lot of comfort when we’re playing in these types of games because they’ve seen it,” Lawson said.
The Blue Devils needed every bit of that experience. UNC dominated inside, outscoring Duke 46-22 in the paint, but the Tar Heels committed a staggering anomaly: they did not attempt a single free throw. It was only the third time this century an ACC team finished a game without a free throw attempt, according to multiple reports.
The turning point came late in the second quarter. UNC had built a 33-28 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the half when Jordan Wood caught fire. The junior forward drilled three consecutive three-pointers, including a buzzer-beater, as Duke ripped off a 13-0 run to take a 41-33 halftime lead. The Blue Devils never trailed again.
Riley Nelson added 13 points, and Toby Fournier grabbed 12 rebounds as Duke’s supporting cast rose to the occasion. Ciera Toomey led UNC with 14 points, while Indya Nivar scored 12 before picking up a costly technical foul for spiking the ball in frustration during the fourth quarter.
Duke’s ACC Title Path Looks Clear
Duke’s 14-0 conference record puts them a game ahead of Louisville, which sits at 13-1. The Blue Devils have now beaten every serious ACC contender, including a road win at Louisville earlier this month. Their remaining schedule features NC State at home Thursday, a trip to Clemson, a home game against Florida State, and a road finale at UNC on March 1.
The math is difficult for anyone hoping to catch them. Duke controls its own destiny for the ACC regular season title. That seems unlikely to slip away for a team that hasn’t lost since December 4 against LSU.
What makes this Duke team dangerous is its balance. Lawson’s squad leads the ACC in scoring defense, allowing just 55.1 points per game in conference play. They also lead the league in opponent three-point percentage and turnover margin while ranking second in opponent field goal percentage. On offense, they’re first in scoring margin and second in assists.
The seniors set the tone. Jackson entered Sunday having won 49 ACC games in her Duke career, and she’ll exit Cameron Indoor with 50. Mair, who transferred from Boston College, has been one of the most impactful portal additions in the country, averaging 11.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game this season.
Duke and UNC will meet one more time in the regular season finale at Chapel Hill on March 1. The Blue Devils will likely have the ACC title locked up by then, but the rivalry never needs additional stakes. For now, Lawson’s team has positioned itself for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and potential hosting rights through the first two weekends.
The only question remaining is whether anyone can knock them off before April.