The March Madness magic was on full display yet again. This time, it was Ashlon Jackson, the Duke Blue Devils star, who stole the show in the final few seconds of the Sweet 16 matchup against the LSU Tigers.
The two teams met at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento today to compete for the Elite Eight spot. Duke took an early lead in the game and went into halftime with a 47-40 advantage over the Tigers.
LSU was trailing by two points at the end of the third quarter as well, but they caught second wind in the final minutes and were in front. With 2.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter, LSU was 85-84 against Duke.
Jordan Wood made an inbound throw to Jackson as she broke free from LSU’s defense, being guarded by Flau’jae Johnson. With the clock running out, Jackson took a step back behind the three-point line, did a pump fake, and shot the ball for glory.
The ball hit the rim but didn’t go in immediately. Players, coaches, and fans watched with bated breath as the ball circled around the rim before going in while the buzzer went off. The dramatic finish put the Blue Devils up 87-85 to seal the game.
Fans immediately took to social media to heap praise on Jackson.
“ASHLON JACKSON YOU ARE A WINNER!” a fan wrote.
“Ashlon Jackson buzzer beater just channeled Kawhi Leonard,” a fan wrote.
“Ashlon Jackson. Legends are made in March!!” a fan wrote.
“ASHLON MF JACKSON😈💙🥳 FOR THE WIN! Duke women’s basketball team is Elite 8 bound,” a fan wrote.
“What a shot by Ashlon Jackson,” a fan wrote.
Jackson’s finish in the Sweet 16 round is one that will be remembered for years to come. As for the LSU Tigers, they are now eliminated from the tournament.
Ashlon Jackson on Keeping Her Composure
Every year, March Madness turns into a battlefield where we see basketball greats being born. The intensity, the high stakes, and the months and years of hard work on the lines shape the great players.
But they don’t get it right every time. Before Jackson made history, she had two missed free throws. In a Sweet 16 matchup against a team like LSU, that could break one’s confidence. Jackson, however, showed that she was different.
“I try to stay ready,” she said. “I can’t hang my head for anything.”
It’s not just her game-winning shot that took the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight; Jackson’s mentality and ability to overcome setbacks deserve the limelight as well.
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