BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Duke women's basketball forward Toby Fournier was the Blue Devils' leading scorer this season and the ACC Freshman of the Year. But with the season on the line in a critical possession near the end of Duke's Elite Eight matchup against South Carolina, Fournier wasn't on the floor.
Fournier led all scorers Sunday in Duke's 54-50 loss in the Birmingham Regional 2 final, making 8 of 17 shots for 18 points with six rebounds and three blocks. But with Duke down by two points with 29 seconds left, she was subbed out for guard Taina Mair.
When Duke's Ashlon Jackson air-balled a 3-point with shot with seven seconds left, and South Carolina rebounded, Fournier was put back in for defense. Then South Carolina's Chloe Kitts was fouled and hit two free throws to make it 54-50 with five seconds left, and Duke's last chance was effectively over.
South Carolina senior forward Sania Feagin said she expected Fournier would be in the game on the possession where Duke could have tied the game or taken the lead in the final 30 seconds.
"I actually was surprised," Feagin said. "Because she was killing us in the paint."
Duke coach Kara Lawson said she believed it was the best move to sub Fournier out at that point and let Jackson, who finished with 4-of-13 for 13 points, make a play.
"Just a coach's decision," Lawson said. "Went with the ball in Ashlon's hands. She had been making plays for us in the fourth quarter out of the ball screen. She tried to make a play and just missed it."
In Duke's locker room after the game, Fournier said, "I trust Coach Kara, so whatever she chooses to do, I know that's the right decision for the team and what she thinks is going to win us the game.
"I don't know exactly what was drawn up there because it's not a play I was part of. But if there's one thing about Coach Kara -- she knows basketball. I had trust in her vision and what she was planning on doing."
Fournier said that despite the disappointment of losing Sunday, she is proud of what the Blue Devils accomplished this season. They won the ACC tournament and made the Elite Eight -- both for the first time since 2013. They expect to bring back all their players except senior guard Reigan Richardson.
"It was a really good freshman season for me and overall good season for our team as well," Fournier said. "I feel like I came into Duke right at the perfect time because of the way that we're playing and the direction we're going."