Duke advances to Sweet 16 without star Toby Fournier

Duke's women's basketball team faced a tough challenge in Round 2 of the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament. They narrowly defeated Oregon, finishing the game 59-53. The game was closer than expected due to the absence of key player Toby Fournier. Fournier, who is Duke's leading scorer and the ACC Rookie of the Year, could not play because of an illness. Duke's coach, Kara Lawson, said they found out about her condition just before the game. She did not provide details about Fournier's illness or when she might return. Without Fournier, Duke struggled offensively. They only scored two points in the first five minutes and experienced multiple scoring droughts during the game. Overall, they shot 38.2% from the field, which is below their usual performance. Duke relies heavily on Fournier's scoring ability, especially when they face offensive challenges. Although they managed to win this time, her absence could make it harder for them to succeed in the tournament moving forward. Fortunately for the Blue Devils, they have almost a week to prepare for their Sweet 16 matchup against either North Carolina or West Virginia. This break might give Fournier the time she needs to recover, but more information from Lawson will be awaited.