Whether you want to count it as 16 years, 312 weeks or 2,184 days, Duke has been a staple of the weekly Associated Press women's college basketball rankings. As of Monday, the third-longest streak in poll history is no more.
In its first nine games, Duke posted an average rebounding margin of plus-6.6, and outrebounded every one of its opponents. The last 10 games tell a vastly different story—the Blue Devils have been outrebounded in all four losses during this stretch and six times overall, including three by double-digits.
In a season full of upsets, three unranked teams currently sit in the top five of the ACC standings.
On a night that ended on a Matt Jones’ halfcourt heave—the Blue Devils’ 37th attempt from beyond the arc—the first five minutes of the game proved to be a microcosm of what was to come.
Monday’s down-to-the-wire loss against Syracuse was nothing new for Duke. Four of the five games between the Blue Devils and Orange as ACC foes have been decided by eight points or fewer, with officiating now at the center of three of them.
Orange forward Tyler Roberson brought down 20 rebounds—12 of them on the offensive glass—and four Syracuse players scored 14 points to send No. 20 Duke to its third straight loss.
Poor defensive rebounding and a rough shooting night from beyond the arc hurt the Blue Devils in a 64-62 loss to Syracuse.
A dominant effort by Syracuse on the offensive glass helped propel the Orange past Duke 64-62 Monday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, sending the Blue Devils to their third straight loss—their first three-game losing streak since the 2006-07 season.
After a half of play, No. 20 Duke leads the Orange 29-26 despite shooting just 30.0 percent from the floor. The Blue Devils hoisted 21 attempts from downtown in the opening 20 minutes and made just five, but still hold a three-point edge after a late surge by sophomore Grayson Allen.
Thursday's 65-62 home loss to N.C. State was likely to cost Duke its spot in the AP top 25, a fate the poll voters confirmed Monday afternoon, ending a streak that began Nov. 29, 1999.
Another week of upsets and tight conference games caused an overhaul in this week's AP Poll, with three top-five teams and five in the top 10 losing—including the previously-No. 9 Blue Devils.
The Blue Zone looks at three keys to the game if Duke hopes to snap its two-game losing skid against Syracuse.
Forwards Brandon Ingram and Michael Gbinije will be key players Monday in Duke's game against Syracuse.
Rebecca Greenwell and Kelly Hughes entered a 3-point shooting contest Sunday, but the Eagles had no answer for a dominant performance by the Duke frontcourt.
Azura Stevens is this week's Player of the Week after a pair of solid performances in the Blue Devils 1-1 week.
Luke Kennard is this week's Blue Zone Player of the Week after racking up a career-high 30 points in Saturday's loss to Notre Dame.
Duke commits Jayson Tatum, Frank Jackson and Leaonna Odom were all named McDonald's All-Americans Sunday night.
Duke desperately needed someone to step up alongside Azurá Stevens to halt a two-game losing streak.
“Just grab the ball. Just grab the ball between your palms. Just catch it. Catch it and then protect it.”
The No. 22 Blue Devils dropped to 1-3 in the ACC with a home loss to N.C. State Thursday night, but they will stay home this weekend to take on Boston College Sunday at 2 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
