DURHAM, N.C. – Just as Oregon thought it found its happy place in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, Duke’s Ashlon Jackson reminded the Ducks that Cameron Indoor Stadium is their home.

Jackson rallied the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils with a 14-point third quarter, as Duke defeated Oregon 59-53 Sunday in a second-round tournament game.

Jackson hit four three-pointers during a five-minute stretch to help the Blue Devils erase a five-point halftime deficit. The No. 10-seeded Ducks were looking to repeat a feat from 2017 NCAA tournament, when they won two games as the No. 10 seed at Cameron, including a win over second-seeded Duke.

Oregon (20-12) made it difficult on Duke, pulling to within one point with 3:30 left in the game. Duke (28-7) turned up its defense, forcing the Ducks to miss eight consecutive shots. Though the Blue Devils built a seven-point cushion, the Ducks didn’t go away easily by forcing several defensive stops during the final two minutes.

Duke advances to the Sweet 16, where the Blue Devils face Monday’s North Carolina-West Virginia winner in a regional semifinal Friday in Birmingham, Ala.

Deja Kelly, returning to North Carolina this week for the first time since transferring from UNC to Oregon last spring, led the Ducks with 20 points. Phillipina Kyei had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Jackson led Duke with 20 points, all coming in the second half.

Oregon led 28-23 at halftime during a first half that the Ducks were effective offensively when they weren’t turning it over. Oregon shot 50% during the opening half, many coming on mid-range jumpers by Kelly and others.

The Ducks never trailed in the opening half, as they took a 7-2 lead midway through the first quarter. Oregon’s offense stalled for a four-minute stretch as turnovers began to mount, but Sofia Bell got things going when she turned a steal into a transition three and a 10-7 Ducks lead.

Oregon didn’t have any big runs during the first half, but limited Duke’s spurts. The Ducks led 22-15 after Nani Falatea hit a three, then later regained a seven-point margin at 28-21 on drive by Falatea. The Ducks’ length made things difficult for the Blue Devils offense, which shot 36% (10 of 26) during the first half.

Duke emerged from the locker room with business on its mind to start the second half. Jackson, 0 for 3 during the first half, hit three three-pointers and a layup for a personal 11-0 run as the Blue Devils surged to a 34-28 lead. The Ducks were a mess offensively, missing four shots, committing four turnovers and hitting a single free throw on their first nine possessions.

Jackson kept cooking, as she hit her fourth three of the quarter with 4:30 left as the Blue Devils took their largest lead at 39-29.

Kelly gave Oregon a little life, as she scored five consecutive points – including a desperation three at the end of a shot clock – to pull the Ducks to within five. Kelly scored nine points during the final five minutes of the quarter as the Ducks were clinging to Duke, trailing 45-40 heading to the fourth quarter.

But Oregon suffered a blow late in the third quarter when Peyton Scott collapsed on the floor, injuring her right leg. She had to be helped off the floor, returning to the bench midway through the fourth quarter on crutches

Oregon continued to make progress, as Falatea hit a three and Kyei converted a three-point play, trimming the Duke lead to 47-46 with 7:18 left. Kyei kept Oregon close, with a couple of contested layups to keep the Ducks within one point with 3:30 left.

—Nick Daschel | [email protected] | @nickdaschel | @nickdaschel.bsky.social | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.