CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference clash with postseason implications, the North Carolina women’s basketball team avenged a loss from two weeks prior by holding off a late Duke rally for a 74-69 victory at a raucous Dean Smith Center on Sunday.

A dominant third-quarter surge by the Tar Heels, fueled by the game’s standout performer, proved to be the decisive stretch in a contest characterized by physical defense and momentum swings. The win improved North Carolina to 25-6 overall, while Duke fell to 21-8.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded immediately after halftime. North Carolina, trailing 31-29 at the break, erupted for 23 points in the third quarter while clamping down defensively to limit Duke to 16. The catalyst was Elina Aarnisalo of Helsinki, Finland. The North Carolina guard scored 11 of her game-high 22 points in the period, including a pair of three-pointers that ignited the home crowd of 6,319. Her step-back three-pointer at the 5:52 mark gave the Tar Heels a lead they would not relinquish, part of a 15-4 run that transformed a two-point deficit into a nine-point advantage.

Duke, which had won the previous meeting 72-68 in Durham on Feb. 15, showed no quit. The Blue Devils mounted a fierce comeback in the final quarter, outscoring North Carolina 22-22 in the period and cutting the lead to a single possession multiple times in the closing minutes. Ashlon Jackson of China, Texas, led the charge, scoring 10 of her 17 points in the fourth, including three three-pointers. Her final triple, assisted by Taina Mair with 55 seconds remaining, brought Duke within 67-65.

North Carolina’s response at the free-throw line sealed the victory. Under intense pressure, the Tar Heels connected on seven of eight attempts from the stripe in the final 41 seconds. Nyla Harris of Orlando, Florida, who finished with 19 points, made four consecutive free throws during that span, and Aarnisalo added two more to keep Duke at bay. A last-second three-point attempt by Jackson to tie the game was off the mark as time expired.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find consistent offense. Duke established an early edge, leading 14-13 after one quarter and extending it to 31-29 by halftime behind balanced scoring from Jackson, Toby Fournier of Toronto, Canada, and Delaney Thomas of Charles Town, West Virginia. North Carolina relied on Harris inside and timely plays from Indya Nivar of Apex, North Carolina, to stay within striking distance, setting the stage for the third-quarter explosion.

Beyond Aarnisalo and Harris, North Carolina received a key contribution from Lanie Grant of Midlothian, Virginia, who scored 10 points. For Duke, Fournier and Thomas each tallied 12 points, while Riley Nelson of Clarksburg, Maryland, added 13 points and three assists. Mair facilitated the Duke offense with a game-high five assists.

The game’s statistical profile underscored its tight nature, though neither team shot exceptionally well from the field. The Tar Heels ultimately made pivotal plays in the third quarter and executed from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the season split and a valuable conference victory heading into the final stages of the regular season.