Blue Devils Welcome NC Central to Cameron Indoor on Sunday

Sunday, November 26

Durham, N.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina Central

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Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Welcome NC Central to Cameron Indoor on Sunday

11/25/2023 9:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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THE OPENING TIP

The Blue Devils return to action following the Thanksgiving holiday, hosting NC Central at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. Dean Linke and Debbie Taylor will call the action on ACCNX.
Duke takes on NC Central for the ninth time in the history of the respective programs -- Sunday's tilt marking the first meeting in 14 years.
The last matchup between the Blue Devils and Eagles occurred on Dec. 28, 2009, with Duke delivering an utterly dominant performance en route to a 117-28 victory.
The Blue Devils are 10-3 all-time against teams from the MEAC and have won five straight games versus NC Central.
Duke has seen a balanced attack on the offensive end thus far as the team features four players averaging double figures -- Ashlon Jackson (12.0), Oluchi Okananwa (11.6), Taina Mair (10.8) and Reigan Richardson (12.5).
The Blue Devils have provided assists on close to 50 percent of their field goals (45.9) with 67 dimes on 146 made buckets.
Duke currently ranks seventh nationally in blocks per game with an average of 7.2 rejections. Graduate student Camilla Emsbo (left) checks in at No. 15 nationally in total blocks (12) and No. 27 in blocks per game (2.4).
Freshman Oluchi Okananwa has provided a huge spark off the bench for Duke this season, with the rookie averaging 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game -- second and first on the team, respectively.
In her first five collegiate games, Okananwa has scored in double figures three times and snagged at least six rebounds on four occasions, including a trio of games with nine or more boards.

ENERGIZER BUNNY – OKANANWA PROVIDES THE SPARK

Freshman Oluchi Okananwa has been a spark plug for the Blue Devils off the bench, injecting a jolt of energy every time she steps onto the floor.
Okananwa, who averages 22.1 minutes per game, leads the Duke efforts on the glass with an average of 7.6 rebounds per game -- 16th among all freshmen nationally -- and currently ranks second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per contest. Her 38 total rebounds also sits at No. 4 in the ACC.
She has reached double figures in three of the first five games and grabbed at least six rebounds in four contests, including a trio of outings with nine-plus boards.

SUPERLATIVE SPOTLIGHT – DUKE LEADING EFFORT OFF THE BENCH ON OFFENSIVE GLASS, ON THE BREAK & IN THE PAINT

Duke's reserves are providing a spark for the Blue Devils, boasting an average of 25.2 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored more bench points than their foes in all five games, totaling 126 points while opponents have put up just 55.
In three of the five games, the Blue Devils have finished with a substantial margin in bench production -- 34-15 (Richmond), 24-6 (Coastal Carolina) and 28-5 (at Stanford)
Duke has received strong production on the offensive glass this season producing 17.2 offensive rebounds per game -- No. 4 in the ACC and 25th nationally -- while tallying 17 more o-boards overall (86-69).
The Blue Devils have parlayed those extra possessions into 79 second chance points, more than 30 points better than their opponents (44). Duke has held the advantage in four of its five games, including sizeable margins against Richmond (18-5) and Coastal Carolina (20-2).
On the fastbreak, the Blue Devils hold a 46-21 edge and have limited each opponent to fewer than eight points in transition.
Duke has also commanded the inside through the first five games of the season, outscoring its foes 176-128.
The Blue Devils average nearly 10 more points in the painted area per game than their opponents, 35.2 to 25.6, and have finished with double-digit margins in three off the four games -- vs. Richmond (46-26), at Columbia (42-26), vs. Davidson (36-22).

A QUICK LOOK AT THE EAGLES

NC Central enters Sunday's game on a three-game winning streak and an overall record of 3-2.
After dropping the first two games of the season on the road at Washington and Wofford, the Eagles have bounced back with consecutive home wins against Mid-Atlantic Christian, Johnson & Wales and Western Carolina.
Kimeira Burks spearheads the offensive charge for the Eagles with 16.8 points per game and is joined in double figures by Kyla Bryant (14.8).
Morgan Callahan leads the efforts on the glass with 9.0 per contest while Tippy Robertson leads the team with an average of 4.5 assists.
Interim head coach Terrence Baxter is in his first year leading the Eagles' women's basketball program and his third season at NC Central overall.

SERIES HISTORY

Sunday's matchup marks the ninth all-time meeting, and the first in 14 years, between Duke and NC Central.
The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 5-3 and have won five consecutive games against the Eagles dating back to 1977.
In the last game between the two schools -- Dec. 28, 2009 -- No. 8/11 Duke delivered an absolutely dominant performance en route to a 117-28 victory.

UP NEXT
Duke heads to the Peach State for its final road test of the non-conference schedule, taking on Georgia in a midweek battle as part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

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