Mar 27, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Ashlon Jackson (3) celebrates with ahead Delaney Thomas (12) and ahead Toby Fournier (35) after creating a game-winning shot towards the Louisiana State Tigers throughout a Candy 16 sport of the Sacramento Regional 2 of the ladies’s 2026 NCAA Event at Golden 1 Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Photographs Ashlon Jackson’s rim-circling 3-pointer as time expired gave third-seeded Duke an 87-85 win over second-seeded LSU in a roller-coaster Candy 16 matchup on Friday within the Sacramento Area 2 nightcap.
The win sends Duke to the regional ultimate on Sunday, when the Blue Devils will face top-seeded UCLA on Sunday. The Bruins cruised previous fourth-seeded Minnesota within the first Candy 16 contest on Friday, 80-56.
Duke (27-8) led many of the night time and by way of as many as 11, together with a 78-67 edge within the fourth quarter after an 11-0 run. LSU (29-6) rallied more than one instances within the sport. The groups exchanged the lead six instances within the 1/3 quarter with their giant spurt, punctuated with 3 consecutive transformed and-one alternatives.
Jackson sank a 3-pointer from the correct wing to cap a 19-point night time, whilst teammates Toby Fournier and Taina Mai each and every scored 22. MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers, completing with 28 issues for LSU. She added 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Mikaylah Williams scored 22 issues within the loss, and Flau’jae Johnson had 13.
No. 1 UCLA 80, Minnesota 56
Kiki Rice post 21 issues to steer 4 scorers in double figures for the Bruins, who crushed their Large Ten Convention counterpart, the Golden Gophers, in the second one part en path to a win in a Candy 16 sport.
UCLA (34-1) moved one victory clear of repeat Ultimate 4 journeys. The fourth-seeded Golden Gophers (24-9) trailed the Bruins by way of simply 3 issues overdue within the first part, however Gianna Kneepkens’ buzzer-beating layup marked the start of a 17-3 run that prolonged greater than six mins into the 1/3 quarter.
Via a mix of breakaway alternatives and pounding the ball to Lauren Betts (16 issues) at the internal, UCLA attacked the lane to ignite the decisive push. The Bruins completed with 52 issues within the paint whilst permitting best 22 to Minnesota, which was once led by way of Grace Grocholski’s 12 issues.
No. 1 UConn 63, No. 4 North Carolina 42
Sarah Sturdy’s 21-point, 10-rebound effort propelled the Huskies to a victory over the Tar Heels within the Citadel Value Regional 1 semifinals.
Blanca Quinonez shot 7-for-11 for 16 issues off the bench and Azzi Fudd had 10 issues and 5 assists to spice up the Huskies to their 53rd instantly win, of their lowest-scoring sport of the season. They scored a minimum of 71 issues in each and every different sport. UConn, the protecting nationwide champion, will face Large East rival Notre Dame on Sunday.
Indya Nivar had crew highs of 20 issues, 8 rebounds and 4 steals for North Carolina, which shot 28.3% from the sphere and dedicated 24 turnovers.
No. 6 Notre Dame 67, No. 2 Vanderbilt 64
Hannah Hidalgo poured in 31 issues with 11 rebounds and 10 steals because the Combating Irish held off the Commodores.
Hidalgo was once 14 of 25 from the ground and added seven assists, whilst her 10 steals set a document for an NCAA regional. She broke the single-season steals document alongside the way in which, upping her general to 199. Cassandre Prosper, who scored the sport’s ultimate 3 issues, completed with 15.
Mikayla Blakes scored 26 issues and Aubrey Galvan had 24 for Vanderbilt (29-5), which tied the sport at 64 within the ultimate minute of a decent fourth quarter however may just no longer resolution Prosper’s go-ahead bucket with 22 seconds final.
–Box Stage Media
