CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 13th-ranked Blue Devils weathered a first-half run by No. 3 North Carolina but struggled to find a rhythm in a 16-8 loss to the Tar Heels in Saturday’s regular season finale at Fetzer Field. Duke slipped to 9-7 overall and 4-3 in ACC play entering next week’s ACC Championship in Blacksburg, Va.
After North Carolina rattled off seven unanswered in a 14-minute span, the Blue Devils trimmed the deficit to just five by the break. Duke turned in an improved defensive performance in the second half and remained close in several statistical categories but fell short of completing the rally.