Blue Devils Welcome Colonials Saturday

Saturday, February 22

Durham, N.C.

1 P.M.

Duke University

George Washington

Blue Devils Welcome Colonials Saturday

2/21/2020 2:21:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes Live Stats Watch

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke women's lacrosse team (2-2) returns home for a Saturday afternoon tilt with first-time opponent George Washington. Opening draw is slated for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra with Grace Hanlon on the call.

The Blue Devils return to Koskinen Stadium after coming up just short in a thrilling contest at No. 15 Navy. After giving up an 8-1 run to end the half, Duke came roaring back in the second stanza. A 7-0 run and strong defensive play brought the Blue Devils within reach. Duke brought the game within one with 30 seconds remaining, but a last-second shot went wide right to give the hosts the victory.

No. 21 Duke vs. George Washington
Saturday, 1 p.m. | Durham, N.C. – Koskinen Stadium
ACC Network Extra | Live Stats

Duke faces George Washington for the first time in program history on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Colonials serve as the Blue Devils' third first-time opponent through the first five games this season. George Washington enters the contest with an 0-2 record. Led by first-year head coach Jennifer Ulehla, who has an overall record of 130-122, George Washington fell to Mt. Saint Marys, 11-10, in overtime on Saturday,

GW returned the majority of its 2019 roster and is led by Morgan McDonnell and Katie Quinn with seven (3g, 4a) and six points (5g, 1a), respectively.

Although Duke has never faced the Colonials, Duke is 35-2 all-time versus Atlantic 10 opponents. In its most recent meeting, Duke topped VCU, 26-13, during its final game of the 2019 season on May 5, 2019. The Blue Devils' 26 goals in that game set a program record for the most in a single game in Duke history.

Noting Duke:

Duke In the Polls
Duke has remained ranked No. 21 throughout the young 2020 season in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll, the same ranking the club finished with last season in the final IWLCA 2019 Poll. The Blue Devils jumped up to the 18th spot before sliding down to 19th in the most recent Inside Lacrosse Media Poll after beginning the season at No. 20.

Jenner Establishes Herself in the Circle
Sophomore attacker Maddie Jenner took over the primary draw control duties after assisting her sister last season. Maddie and Olivia Jenner combined to make Duke one of the most potent teams in the country inside the circle, leading the country in draw controls per game and finishing second in draw control percentage.

This season, Maddie Jenner has taken the brunt of the draw controls and leads Duke in the category with 47 through the opening four games of the season. Her 11.75 draw controls per game leads the nation. As a team, Duke is second in draw controls per game, averaging 20.25 per contest, falling short to only Northwestern's 23.00 a game.

Barry's Three-Game Tear
Junior midfielder Catriona Barry has scored 12 goals in Duke's last three games, to give her 13 on the season. Her mark of 13 leads Duke this season, while ranking eighth nationally and fourth in the ACC.

Versus Northwestern, Barry set a career high with four goals versus the visitors. In the following two games, versus Wofford and at Navy, Barry matched her tally and netted four in each.

Barry's 13 goals this season are more than any single season in her career. In addition, she is a approaching her single-season record for points, five shy after just four games. Her 52 career points tie for 50th in the Duke charts.

How May I Assist You?
Freshman attacker Caroline DeBellis currently leads Duke in points and assists with 21 and 11, respectively, and sits among national leaders in both categories. She has tallied multiple assists in all but one game this season.

Her 11 assists has her third in the nation while her 21 points makes her sixth. With 11 assists, she already sits tied for 12th in assists among Duke freshmen in Blue Devil history. Her 21 points fall just outside the top-20 freshman list. In addition, DeBellis ranks 14th in the country and third in the ACC in shot percentage, putting 76.9 percent of her shots in the net.

Shooting Our Shot
The Blue Devils are one of the most efficient teams in the country in the attacking third. Duke is averaging 19.25 goals per game in 2020, ranking sixth nationally and third in the ACC. Duke ranks seventh in the country and first in the ACC in shots per game, averaging 38.50. Of those, Duke averages putting 30.25 on target to rank fourth in the nation in shots on goal per game.

S. DeBellis Named Student Assistant Coach
Duke head coach Kerstin Kimel announced Feb. 12 that redshirt junior Sam DeBellis has shifted into a Student Assistant Coach role for the 2020 season.

DeBellis played in just one game for the Blue Devils before injury plagued her years in Durham. In that one game against Furman, the second game of the 2017 season (her freshman year), DeBellis scored a goal in the 20-5 feat of the Paladins.

Cronin and Barry Enjoy Career Day
Juniors Katie Cronin and Catriona Barry both had their best single-game performances of their careers against third-ranked Northwestern. Both student-athletes had four-goal performances to lead the Blue Devils.

Sunday was Cronin's first four-goal performance of her career, topping her three-goal performance against North Carolina in last season's ACC Semifinal. The Darien, Conn., native shot .800, went 3-for-4 from the 8-meter mark and added a caused turnover to the cause.

Barry also netted four for the hosts, the most for a single game in her career as well. In addition to her scoring, the Napa, Calif., product added two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

300 and KMKounting
Duke head coach Kerstin Kimel recorded her 300th career win in the Blue Devils' season-opening 22-7 victory over Gardner-Webb. With that win, Kimel is now the seventh active Division I head coach to reach the 300-win milestone.

#GoDuke