North Carolina
FIRST: Duke women's basketball forces overtime, beats North Carolina for Lawson's first regular-season rivalry win
It was always going to be a big game. Two punchy teams with lofty aspirations, two teams with the same ACC record. It did not disappoint. Despite falling behind in the third quarter, Duke rallied behind a monstrous performance from forward Delaney Thomas in the fourth quarter to win the game 68-60 in overtime.
Foul trouble plagued the hosts down the stretch, as both junior Reigan Richardson and Oluchi Okananwa picked up four fouls relatively early in the final period. Despite the added stress, it was Okananwa who drained a shot from deep to cut the lead to just three points with under five minutes left. It was, unsurprisingly, Thomas who managed to tie the game up at 48, converting the and-one. Then, it was Taina Mair who managed to seize the lead, dropping in a shot from deep to give the Blue Devils (16-7, 8-4 in the ACC) their first advantage of the game.
Tar Heel guard Lexi Donarski answered right back at the other end, drawing the foul and converting the extra shot to give the visitors the lead. Two more Okananwa free throws continued to keep the game tied, and with a minute-and-a-half left it was 53 apiece. Despite valiant attempts and several timeouts, the Blue Devils were unable to make a shot to end the period. A forced turnovers gave the visitors a chance with the clock ticking down, but the Duke defense stood strong and the game was tied heading into overtime.
The Tar Heels (15-8, 7-6) drew first blood in the extra period, as Kelly dropped in a shot from deep. However, the Blue Devils quickly answered. First it was Thomas who put the ball up for her 17th and 18th points of the game. Then, she drew a fifth foul on star North Carolina forward Alyssa Ustby. A Kennedy Brown put-back again gave the home squad the lead, as the clock ticked below two minutes. Following that up was Reigan Richardson with a jumper from the elbow, and a rebounding foul allowed Brown to extend the lead to six points with just under two minutes remaining. The dagger came from Mair, who dropped in a shot from the corner to extend the lead to seven. Some more solid defense from the hosts prevented the last-second comeback, and the Blue Devils exited victorious.
The tension was palpable heading into a tightly-contested second half, as the hard-nosed basketball continued. The only available points were physical finishes at the rim and deep, often contested 3-pointers. It was the Tar Heels who found their stroke first. No play was more representative of how the half started than when Ustby pump-faked down low, as freshman Thomas bit and Ustby drew the tough and-one basket. On the very next trip down the floor, it was North Carolina guard Deja Kelly who drew another one down low, converting the basket before hyping up what was a sizable turnout from Chapel Hill on her way to the line. The youthful home team appeared to have lost control.
Sophomore guard Emma Koabel managed to rally the troops for a skidding home team as the Tar Heels pulled away in the second half, draining a corner shot to cut the lead back to single digits. Even then, issues on both ends continued to plague the hosts. Seven fouls in the third quarter certainly did not help the Blue Devils, whose physical defense was coming back to bite them as they chased the game. The third quarter appeared like it might be the consequential one, as Duke finished the period down 12.
The Tar Heels came into the first with a plan, using Ustby to go right at Blue Devil freshman guard Jadyn Donovan. It worked, as Ustby took Donovan on the baseline and dropped in the bucket for the first points of the game. On the other end of the floor, the North Carolina defense was suffocating. Turnovers and mistakes abounded for Duke, which looked like it was struggling to find a rhythm. The shot clock ran low consistently, and forced poor selection from the field. At the under-5 timeout, the visitors led 11-4.
Then the Duke defense began to find its footing. Freshman standout guard Okananwa played as she often does, forcing turnovers and playing dynamically at both ends. On offense, it was Ashlon Jackson who provided a spark, pump-faking and taking a dribble before dropping a ball in from deep. The shots started to fall, as sophomore Taina Mair nailed one from deep. Some clever play design gave center Camilla Emsbo an easy look at the cup, and at the end of the quarter it was a one-point game.
The second period was much of the same, as the two teams battled it out. The defense was suffocating, and neither team was able to generate quality looks. The visitors continued to attack Donovan, who struggled on both ends of the floor. The freshman was jumpy on defense and unable to find her shooting stroke. Across the afternoon, Donovan went 0-for-3 from the field with a plus-minus of -4.
It was Thomas, however, who continued to provide a youthful jolt for the team. The freshman played excellent defense and provided some quality post play from the 4-spot. She often found herself in the position to grab rebounds and put up second-chance points when initial attempts failed to fall. Despite hard work on both ends of the floor, the first half ended much like the first quarter: with Duke down one.
After their tide-changing win, the Blue Devils next head to Blacksburg, Va., for a Thursday rematch with Virginia Tech.
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The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, June 27, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 27 drawing
03-16-28-30-59, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 27 drawing
Day: 7-6-8, Fireball: 2
Evening: 3-1-0, Fireball: 4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 27 drawing
Day: 8-0-2-2, Fireball: 9
Evening: 8-1-5-3, Fireball: 0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from June 27 drawing
02-08-10-17-28
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from June 27 drawing
01-02-15-25-36
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 27 drawing
26-32-38-51-52, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
An AMBER Alert has been issued for a 15-year-old New Bern boy after police say he was abducted at gunpoint from a motel early Saturday morning.
According to the New Bern Police Department, officers responded around 3:15 a.m. to the Palace Motel, located at 1901 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., after receiving a report of a child abduction.
Police said two adults inside the motel room told officers they had been asleep with two boys — 15-year-old Isaiah Kavon Owens and 13-year-old Kenneth Brantley Jr. — when they were awakened by someone banging on the door.
According to investigators, Larry Tompkins opened the door and encountered multiple people, including Kenneth Lee Brantley Sr., the father of Kenneth Brantley Jr.
Police said Brantley pointed a gun at Tompkins before taking both boys from the room and leaving in a black 2012 GMC Yukon Denali XL with South Carolina license plate XFH752.
Authorities said Brantley may be traveling to his residence in Marion, South Carolina. A statewide BOLO (Be On the Lookout) has been issued for the vehicle.
The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons issued an AMBER Alert Friday morning at the request of the New Bern Police Department.
Isaiah is described as a Black male, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 100 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, black pants and red-and-blue sneakers.
Police said Isaiah is autistic and has a speech delay.
Investigators said arrest warrants have been obtained for Brantley charging him with the abduction and endangerment of Isaiah Owens.
The New Bern Police Department said it is working with local, state, out-of-state and federal law enforcement agencies to locate Isaiah and ensure his safe return.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the New Bern Police Department at 252-633-2020, their local law enforcement agency, or call 911 immediately.
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Authorities advise the public not to approach Brantley.
A man once given the nickname Cardiac Kemba due to his heart-stopping heroics at the University of Connecticut, Kemba Walker is back to breathe life into the 704’s youth basketball community.
The Charlotte Hornets’ legend officially opened the Kemba Walker Sports Academy in Concord, North Carolina this afternoon, a multi-sport facility just north of Charlotte that’s mission is “to provide a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for athletes to learn, grow, excel and compete.”
At a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the 54,000 square foot facility, Walker took some time to answer questions from assembled media about his latest venture that was created with community in mind.
“It’s really bigger than, you know, basketball,” said the Hornets’ all-time leading scorer this afternoon when talking about the academy. “We want the kids to have some discipline and really teach them how to work hard you know? That’s what we’re chasing. We’re chasing something that’s much bigger than the actual sport.”
It’s a bold vision, and one that Walker has dreamed of fulfilling since he was a kid suiting up for his childhood AAU program, the New York Gauchos.
“(The Gauchos’ facility) is probably not quite like this. It’s not as big as this. But that was my safe space, you know? That was the place I was able to go to, to enjoy the game of basketball and meet some of my closest friends that I still have to this day who actually run this place.”
Walker has been a pillar of the grassroots basketball community in Charlotte since he was a baby-faced, 20-something-year-old suiting up for the Bobcats. And even though he spent some time playing elsewhere in his professional basketball career, the four-time All-Star has considered the Queen City his domain since draft night.
“I never left, first of all” said Walker when asked about returning to the Hornets as an assistant coach and being able to now give back to the community that embraced him with open arms when he was drafted in 2011. “Obviously, I went to a couple of different teams and, you know, my path took me to a couple of different places, but I always kept my house here, and my family was always here, and whenever I had time in the summer, something like that, I was always here.”
“But it is amazing to be back. I love Charlotte.”
And Charlotte loves him back.
Walker stamped his name in the franchise record books with a successful career on the court, but he forever endeared himself into the community by embracing the basketball-crazed city he didn’t have a single tie to until he was drafted there.
The Kemba Walker Sports Academy will host its first grassroots basketball event this weekend, the Kemba Walker Invitational, where AAU teams from across the country (including Walker’s own New York Gauchos) will convene in Concord to christen the facility.
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