Preview: Seed Clemson vs. Seed Duke in ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament

DULUTH, Ga. (Interstat) — A rubber match with high stakes is set for the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals Friday when seed Clemson faces seed Duke at Gas South Arena.

The teams split their regular-season series, with Clemson (21-10) earning a narrow 53-51 home win on Feb. 22. Duke (21-8) seeks redemption and a clearer path to the NCAA Tournament.

The Lady Tigers enter with momentum after a 63-50 road victory at Virginia on Thursday. They are 3-2 in their last five games, though they suffered an 85-50 loss at Stanford on March 1. Guard Amaia Jackson, a player to watch for Clemson, scored eight points in 20 minutes in that contest.

The Blue Devils aim to rebound from a 74-69 loss at North Carolina on Sunday. Duke had won four straight prior to that defeat, including an 80-52 rout of Florida State.

The matchup features a compelling backcourt duel. Duke’s Ashlon Jackson has been a consistent force, averaging 15.2 points over her last six games. She was held to just three points in the loss at Clemson last month, a performance she will look to improve upon. Clemson will counter with its defensive discipline, which held Duke to 51 points in the previous meeting.

The winner advances to the ACC tournament semifinals on Saturday. For Clemson, a victory would bolster its NCAA tournament resume with a third quality win over Duke this season. For Duke, a win solidifies its seeding and avenges the recent home-and-home split.

Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 8:30 p.m. EDT Friday following the conclusion of the earlier quarterfinal. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.