No. 11 Duke tops No. 21 UNC for 16th straight win

Blue Devils fend off Tar Heels in ACC rivalry matchup

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair each scored 14 points, and Riley Nelson added 13 as No. 11 Duke defeated No. 21 North Carolina 72-68 at home on Sunday, extending the Blue Devils' winning streak to 16 games. Duke went 17-for-21 on free throws, while the Tar Heels did not attempt a single free throw, marking only the third time this century an ACC team has not shot a foul shot in a game.

Why it matters

The victory keeps Duke atop the ACC standings and extends their impressive run, while the loss ends North Carolina's eight-game winning streak. The rivalry between these two storied programs always generates significant interest, and this latest chapter adds another chapter to the long-running competition.

The details

Duke ended the first half on a 13-0 run to take a 41-33 lead at the break. The Blue Devils finished with 46 points in the paint. North Carolina held a 42-34 rebounding advantage, led by 14 points from Ciera Toomey, 12 from Indya Nivar, and 10 each from Nyla Harris and Nyla Brooks.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina.

The players

Ashlon Jackson

A Duke player who scored 14 points in the game.

Taina Mair

A Duke player who also scored 14 points in the game.

Riley Nelson

A Duke player who scored 13 points in the game.

Ciera Toomey

A North Carolina player who scored a team-high 14 points.

Indya Nivar

A North Carolina player who scored 12 points.

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The takeaway

This hard-fought ACC rivalry game showcased the depth and talent of both Duke and North Carolina, with the Blue Devils ultimately prevailing at home to extend their impressive winning streak. The lack of free throw attempts for the Tar Heels was an unusual statistical anomaly, but Duke's dominance in the paint proved to be the difference in this closely contested matchup between two top-25 teams.