With Duke hurtling towards the postseason, the Blue Zone takes a look at what it will take for the Blue Devils to make a run through the ACC Tournament.
Forward Toby Fournier won Rookie of the Year following a remarkable rookie campaign during which she averaged 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 55.0% shooting from the field. She was also named to the All-ACC First Team, and was joined in conference honors by Ashlon Jackson (All-ACC Second Team) and Jadyn Donovan (All-ACC Defensive Team). Fournier became just the second Duke player ever to be named to the All-ACC First Team.
It didn’t matter that the Blue Devil offense never really got into a rhythm until the fourth quarter, or that Duke shot 20% from beyond the arc. Lawson’s defense refused to let the Seminoles pull ahead. The Blue Devils outrebounded their Sunshine State foes 51-35, ensuring that head coach Brooke Wyckoff’s team would never build a margin larger than four points.
A WNBA trade has shaken things up for a Blue Devil veteran, while a recent soccer alumna finds international success. The Blue Zone is here to update on their performance.
In Duke’s final regular-season game, a 28-point career-high contribution from the rookie Toby Fournier carried Duke to a 71-57 victory to clinch a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.
Fast-forward eight weeks, and No. 16 Duke avenged its previous loss tremendously with a 68-53 victory over the No. 8 Tar Heels. While the Blue Devils benefitted from the absence of two North Carolina starters — Reniya Kelly and Alyssa Ustby — it was ultimately Duke’s strong execution that led to the Tar Heels’ undoing.
The Blue Devils left the Tar Heels in the dust Thursday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium, winning 68-53. They were led by 23 from Reigan Richardson and 19 by freshman Toby Fournier.
The last time Duke and North Carolina played, the Tar Heels earned an overtime victory against the Blue Devils. This time, No. 16 Duke looks for revenge on Senior Night. Find out what our beats think will happen.
No. 16 Duke women’s basketball will host No. 8 North Carolina Thursday for their second meeting this season. The Blue Zone is here with an overview of the Tar Heels and the game, along with three keys for the Blue Devils.
The second half of Richardson’s senior season has disappointed relative to her expectations, but it is important to note that said expectations aren’t coming out of thin air. Earlier this season, she scored a career-high 35 points in an overtime victory over Oklahoma. In the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament last season, Richardson averaged 26.5 points and seven rebounds a game while shooting 58.3% from the floor. She has shown an ability to completely take over games with her midrange jumper, but it hasn’t been actualized over the back half of the 2024-25 season.
The Blue Devils got back to their winning ways, making a 80-49 win over Syracuse look pretty easy. The Orange were held to their second-lowest point total of the season, powered by a 21-6 second quarter run by Duke that put the game out of reach for the visitors.
Coming off a difficult loss against No. 1 Notre Dame, turnovers have been a weakness of Duke. The Blue Devils tried to rally against an unranked Louisville team — one of the better squads in the ACC — and while both teams had costly turnovers, the Cardinals were able to capitalize on theirs more.
In the stretch run of its conference slate, Duke women’s basketball lost a tight tilt Thursday evening, welcoming Louisville to town after an away loss to No. 1 Notre Dame. The Cardinals landed their haymakers down the stretch and got the best of the Blue Devils 70-62.
They say the devil is in the details. But in Durham, the Blue Devils are in the details — and the numbers.
Taina Mair’s performance in Monday’s contest showed what happens when Duke shakes things up. A change in pace is necessary for Lawson’s team to keep opposing defenses off balance — especially disciplined, well-coached groups like the Fighting Irish.
Inside the iconic Purcell Pavilion, home to two-time NCAA Champions Notre Dame, Niele Ivey’s squad put up a dominating 64-49 performance against the Blue Devils. Most notably, Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron combined for a total of 34 points.
No. 13 Duke women’s basketball faces another ranked matchup Monday, this time on the road at No. 2 Notre Dame. The Blue Zone is here with an overview of the Fighting Irish and three keys for the Blue Devils.
Once the Blue Devils earned their sizable margin, they would only let their lead flourish to the game’s end, continuing to extend their lead through turnovers converted to fast-break layups.
No. 13 Duke women’s basketball came into Winston-Salem Thursday evening to take on Wake Forest and, after a rough first half, took down the Demon Deacons in what might be called a physical war of attrition. The Blue Devils left town with a 72-47 victory behind another strong game from guard Oluchi Okananwa off the bench.
In her third season with the Blue Devils, Jackson has become a dependable game-changer for the team, as evidenced by recent 23-point performances against N.C. State and Miami. For Jackson, the journey to becoming a player capable of changing the game’s momentum didn’t happen in an instant; It was slow but steady growth.
