Five in Double Figures Lead Duke to Win Over NC Central

Sunday, November 26

Durham, N.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

4-2,0-0ACC

North Carolina Central

3-3,0-0MEAC

N.C. Central

Duke

Five in Double Figures Lead Duke to Win Over NC Central

11/26/2023 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Lawson Quotes (PDF)Duke Player Quotes (PDF)Coach Lawson Presser Thomas Postgame Availability Highlights

DURHAM – Duke women's basketball had five players finish in double figures and the team delivered a solid overall performance as the Blue Devils took care of business against NC Central, 93-45, Sunday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Reigan Richardson paced the offensive efforts for Duke (4-2) with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting with three assists while Taina Mair contributed 15 points, five rebounds and four dimes. Emma Koabel and Camilla Emsbo each chipped in 13 points for the Blue Devils and Delaney Thomas added in her first career double-double of 10 points and game-high 13 boards.

As a team, Duke tallied 23 assists and shot 50 percent (35-for-70) from the floor while holding the Eagles to just 26 percent shooting (18-for-70). Duke forced 23 NC Central turnovers and outrebounded the visitors 56-36, also holding sizeable margins in points off turnovers (26-10), bench points (33-11), points in the paint (46-24) and fastbreak points (22-5).

Morgan Callahan led NC Central (3-3) with 16 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Duke jumped out to an early 18-0 lead and never looked back, holding a 32-10 advantage after one. Sophomores Emma Koabel and Taina Mair led the efforts with 10 and nine points apiece, respectively, in the quarter.
Camilla Emsbo and Reigan Richardson got their individual offensive games going in the second period with eight points each.
As a team, Duke outscored the Eagles 20-6, including a 16-1 scoring burst to close the opening half and give the Blue Devils a 52-16 advantage at the break.
NC Central scored 17 points in the third as it looked to get the offense going. The Blue Devils put up 18 points of their own in the stanza, led by Richardson with nine, as Duke had extended its lead to 70-33.
The Blue Devils put the finishing touches on the Eagles with another quarter of 15-plus points, this time outscoring NC Central by 11, 23-12, during the 10-minute frame. Eight of the nine Duke players that played in the fourth quarter scored.

GAME NOTES

With the win, Duke moves to 4-2 overall this season and snaps a two-game losing streak.
Duke has held each of its opponents below its respective scoring average – NC Central's 45 points is 30 points below the Eagles' season scoring average.
The Blue Devils improve to 11-3 all-time against MEAC opponents, 6-3 all-time against NC Central and have now won six consecutive against the Eagles.
As a team, Duke tallied 23 assists and shot 50 percent (35-for-70) from the floor while holding the Eagles to just 26 percent shooting (18-for-70).
The Blue Devils netted 32 points in the first quarter – tied for No. 2 all-time for most team points in the period.
Duke held NC Central to 2-for-18 (11.1 percent) from the floor in the second quarter – No. 9 all-time by a Duke foe.
Duke forced 23 NC Central turnovers and outrebounded the visitors, 56-36, also holding sizeable margins in points off turnovers (26-10), bench points (33-11), points in the paint (46-24) and fastbreak points (22-5).

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.

To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."

#GoDuke