Top-10 upsets and rivalry showdowns highlighted a wild Thursday night of women’s basketball. March Madness looms right around the corner and these teams are leaving it all on the line. Here’s a look at all of the action from Thursday.
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No. 24 Florida State stuns No. 3 Notre Dame in South Bend
No. 24 Florida State secured its first-ever win at Purcell Pavilion on Thursday night, knocking off No. 3 Notre Dame 86-81 in a back-and-forth ACC showdown that delivered a major shakeup to the conference race.
The Seminoles (23-6, 13-4 ACC) handed the Fighting Irish (24-4, 15-2) their second straight loss and their first home loss of the season behind a dominant performance from Makayla Timpson, who piled up 22 points, 17 rebounds and controlled the paint all night. Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, returned to the lineup after missing three games and added 23 points and nine assists to fuel the upset.
Notre Dame led by as many as 15 points early in the second quarter, but Florida State’s offense caught fire, using a 30-point second frame to take control, leading 44-40 at halftime. Carla Viegas drilled four 3-pointers off the bench and the Seminoles capitalized on second-chance points and timely defensive stops to hold off Notre Dame’s late charge.
Sonia Citron led the Irish with 21 points, while Hannah Hidalgo, who struggled from the field, finished with 16 points on 4-for-18 shooting. Notre Dame had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but a key defensive stand and clutch free throws from Latson sealed Florida State’s statement win.
The victory marks Florida State’s second straight road win over a ranked team — a feat achieved for the first time in program history — boosting its NCAA tournament resume and putting the Seminoles firmly in the hunt for a top-four seed in the ACC tournament.
No. 20 Alabama outlasts No. 7 LSU in OT thriller
No. 20 Alabama stunned No. 7 LSU, pulling out an 88-85 overtime victory in Tuscaloosa to secure a signature win ahead of the SEC tournament.
The Crimson Tide (23-6, 10-5 SEC) leaned on Aaliyah Nye’s 28 points and a clutch performance from Sarah Ashlee Barker, who scored 21 points and hit key shots down the stretch. Alabama controlled much of the game, building an early double-digit lead and holding off multiple LSU runs. The Tide led for over 40 minutes, but LSU (27-3, 12-3) forced overtime on Mikaylah Williams’ jumper with 23 seconds left in regulation.
LSU NOT LETTING UP 💪#NCAAWBB x 🎥 SECN / @LSUwbkb pic.twitter.com/nUkIpkPynx
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 28, 2025
Overtime belonged to Alabama’s defense. The Tide blocked a potential go-ahead shot in the closing seconds and sealed the win at the free-throw line. Nye’s scoring touch and Alabama’s ability to turn 16 LSU turnovers into 15 points proved the difference.
Williams led LSU with 22 points, while Aneesah Morrow added 16 points and nine rebounds. LSU’s bench chipped in 19 points, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome Alabama’s balanced attack and timely shooting.
The win gives Alabama a crucial boost in the SEC standings and strengthens its NCAA tournament resume, while LSU will look to regroup ahead of its regular-season finale against Ole Miss on Sunday and postseason push.
Duke downs rival UNC to split season series
No. 16 Duke bounced back in a big way, shutting down No. 8 North Carolina 68-53 on Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, snapping the Tar Heels’ perfect road record and evening the season series between the rivals.
Led by freshman standout Toby Fournier’s 19 points and 10 rebounds, the Blue Devils (22-7, 13-4 ACC) used a dominant second half to take control. Reigan Richardson added a game-high 23 points, hitting five 3-pointers, as Duke’s defense forced 20 turnovers and turned them into 25 points.
North Carolina (25-5, 13-4 ACC) entered the game 9-0 in true road contests and was coming off a gutsy comeback win at Louisville. The Tar Heels led at halftime 32-31, but Duke’s defense locked down from there and outscored UNC 21-9 in the third quarter to open up a double-digit lead.
Ashlon Jackson 🤝 Buzzer Beaters pic.twitter.com/BHJBIIts2b
— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) February 28, 2025
Duke opened that third quarter on a 10-0 run and never trailed again. The Tar Heels couldn’t find their offensive rhythm, committing nine turnovers in the second half and struggling to handle Duke’s pressure.
Lanie Grant led UNC with 17 points, and Maria Gakdeng added eight points and seven rebounds, but no other Tar Heel reached double figures until late. UNC’s bench, a strength in recent weeks, managed just four points.
For Duke, the win came at a critical moment in the ACC race and the NCAA tournament picture — both teams were revealed as projected 3-seeds in the NCAA DI committee’s second and final in-season top-16 bracket reveal, announced just before Thursday’s tipoff. The Blue Devils improved to 12-1 at home this season and claimed their first ranked win since mid-January.
The rivalry win gives Duke a chance to close the regular season strong when it visits No. 24 Florida State on Sunday. Meanwhile, UNC returns home for Senior Day against Virginia, looking to regroup before conference tournament play begins.
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