NCAA Women’s Tournament 2025: Biggest moments from Sweet 16 Day 1

2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament The first day of Sweet 16 Action continued on Friday.

[Read more: 2025 Women’s March Madness Schedule: Dates, locations, channels, how to watch]

Duke began the day with a vintage defensive performance as the second-seeded Blue Devils held back against third-seeded North Carolina.

Currently, South Carolina’s No. 1 seed continues his title defense as the Gamecocks win fourth seed Maryland.

Third-seeded Louisiana State then attempts to make the appearance of the third straight elite 8, but will have to pass through the second seeded North Carolina to get there.

The top seed of UCLA, the NCAA women’s tournament, will hold back the night in a matchup with Ole Miss as the Bruins try to return to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2018.

The biggest moments from the sweet 16 on the first day are:

Oluchi Okananwa led ACC Tournament champion Duke past North Carolina 47-38 on Friday, entering the women’s NCAA Tournament Elite 8, recording her third double-double of the season.

The Blue Devils will make the 12th Elite 8 appearance in program history, playing either the first seed and defending champions of South Carolina or fourth seeded Maryland, scheduled to play Friday in Birmingham.

Okananwa scored 10 of the 12 points in the first half, earning 10 rebounds from the Duke’s bench. Acheron Jackson finished with 10 points, with three points being hit by Duke’s main goalscorer Toby Fournier, who missed the second round due to illness.

Fifth year senior Alyssa Ustby scored nine points on three of the 10 tar heels that were lacking in their attempts to advance to the first Elite 8 since 2014.

Neither team fired the ball well. Duke shot 31% after missing the first nine field goals. North Carolina has now 28% off the field.

Part of that may have been for familiarity. The team played for the second time this season, a month ago. North Carolina coach Courtney Vangart said this week that there is an added level of comfort for the team they just played.

But this was also two of the nation’s top defenses, forcing a departure, false shots and a desperate thrill in the second half of the shot clock at the start of the game.

This was the first meeting in the NCAA Tournament between the two teams, playing each other 111 times. North Carolina still has just a 56-55 edge.

Report by Associated Press

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