SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a heart-stopping finish befitting the stage, the Duke Blue Devils avenged a regular-season defeat and ended the LSU Tigers’ championship defense, escaping with an 87-85 victory in a NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament regional semifinal on Friday night.

A crowd of 9,446 at the Golden 1 Center witnessed a taut, high-level contest that saw Duke build a double-digit lead, withstand a furious LSU comeback, and finally secure the win with a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds.

The game’s defining sequence unfolded in a chaotic final minute. Trailing 85-83 with 18.8 seconds remaining, Duke’s Ashlon Jackson was fouled on a three-point attempt but missed the first two free throws. After an LSU timeout, Flau’jae Johnson’s driving layup was blocked by Duke’s Toby Fournier, but the ball went out of bounds off the Blue Devils. LSU inbounded with 9.9 seconds left, and Mikaylah Williams was fouled, sinking both free throws to push the Tigers’ lead to 85-83.

Duke, without a timeout, raced upcourt. Jordan Wood found Jackson open on the left wing, and the sophomore from China, Texas, drained a three-pointer with 6 seconds remaining to put Duke ahead 86-85. LSU’s ensuing inbounds pass was deflected and stolen by Duke’ Delaney Thomas, who was immediately fouled. Thomas made one of two free throws for the final margin, and a desperation heave from LSU at the buzzer fell short.

The victory propels Duke, now 27-8, into a regional final on Sunday. LSU’s season ends at 28-6.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ December meeting, a 93-77 LSU rout in Durham. Duke established control early, leveraging efficient offense and disruptive defense to lead 24-19 after one quarter and 47-40 at halftime. The Blue Devils’ lead ballooned to 13 points in the third quarter before LSU, led by the dynamic scoring of MiLaysia Fulwiley, mounted its charge.

Fulwiley, a guard from Columbia, South Carolina, spearheaded the LSU rally with a game-high 28 points, including 12 in the third quarter as the Tigers outscored Duke 25-20 to trim the deficit to 67-65 heading to the fourth. The Tigers finally drew even and took their first lead since the opening minutes midway through the final period, setting the stage for the frantic finish.

Duke’s balance proved decisive. Taina Mair of Boston scored 22 points and dished four assists, often serving as the primary ball-handler against LSU’s pressure. Toby Fournier, a forward from Toronto, matched Mair with 22 points and provided critical interior defense, including the pivotal late block. Jackson finished with 19 points and five assists, her final three-pointer the crowning moment.

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams of Bossier City, Louisiana, supported Fulwiley with 22 points. The Tigers dominated points in the paint, 52-38, but Duke’s ability to connect from the perimeter and execute in the final possessions made the difference.

The game was a statistical anomaly, with the combined score of 172 points sailing over the pregame over/under line of 146.5. LSU entered as an 8.5-point favorite and was given a 60% probability to win by analytics systems, but Duke’s resilience and poise under pressure flipped the script.

Duke’s win continues a strong postseason run, adding to recent victories over Baylor and College of Charleston. LSU, which had rolled through its first two tournament opponents by a combined 112 points, saw its quest for back-to-back titles end in a classic March duel defined by one final, unforgettable shot.