Alyssa Ustby scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and No. 19 North Carolina made 10 of 14 free throws in overtime to beat No. 14 Duke 53-46 after blowing a 16-point lead in the second half.

Stout defense trumped efficient offense in the first women’s basketball game between Duke and UNC this season. Both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels are ranked in the top 20 in the most recent AP Top 25 poll.

No. 19 North Carolina defeated No. 14 Duke 53-46 on Thursday at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C., the first of two meetings between the rival teams. North Carolina senior Alyssa Ustby led the Tar Heels with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The loss is the Blue Devils’ first in conference play so far this season.

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It’s time to continue our Women’s College Basketball odds series with a Duke-North Carolina prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Duke-North Carolina. The Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels are both ranked in the top 20.

Duke women’s basketball takes on archrival North Carolina Thursday in a matchup between two top 20 teams. The Chronicle previews the encounter with an overview, key stat, X-Factor and keys to the game.

The UNC women's basketball team earned a gutty 53-46 overtime win against No. 14 Duke at Carmichael Arena on Thursday night

The No. 14 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team faced the No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels in a top-20 matchup Thursday. The game delivered on its expectations, reaching overtime after Duke overcame a late UNC lead,

No. 19 Alabama back on December 5 at Haas Pavilion, and on Thurday Cal beat a team that reached the Final Four last season. Marta Suarez scored 17 points f