Blue Devils Host No. 14 Virginia Tech in Midweek Matchup

Thursday, January 18

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Tickets

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Host No. 14 Virginia Tech in Midweek Matchup

1/17/2024 6:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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THE OPENING TIP

Duke welcomes No. 14 Virginia Tech to Cameron Indoor Stadium for a midweek conference tilt. Action is slated for Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m., live on ACC Network.
Thursday marks the 37th all-time meeting between Duke and Virginia Tech with the Blue Devils leading the series, 28-8.
Duke is 15-3 when playing the Hokies at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including a 66-55 victory last season (1.26.23).
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS currently ranks eighth nationally and second among ACC teams. The Blue Devils are also slotted 23rd in the NET rankings (as of Jan. 16)
The Blue Devils gear up for another challenging slate as they are set to face three consecutive ranked opponents -- No. 14 Virginia Tech, at No. 4 NC State and No. 15 Florida State.
Duke ranks second nationally in blocks per game with an average of 7.2 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 16).
Rookie Jadyn Donovan has denied 28 shots (1.8 bpg) -- fourth in the ACC -- and leads four Duke players with double-digit blocks on the year. She is joined by the upperclassmen forward duo of Camilla Emsbo (26) and Kennedy Brown (19) and classmate Delaney Thomas with 10.
Emsbo checks in at No. 5 in the league in both total rejections and blocks per game (1.63).
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Oluchi Okananwa (11.3) Reigan Richardson (11.1), Taina Mair (10.9).
Duke has assists on more than 50 percent of its field goals (.527) with 232 dimes on 440 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.63 dimes per contest.
The Blue Devils are coming off a commanding 38-point victory over Georgia Tech, turning in arguably their best total team performance of the season en route to the 84-46 dub.
Duke shot a season-best 59.1 percent from distance against the Yellow Jackets cashing in 13 of 22 attempts. It marked the first time since Jan. 15, 2005, against Boston College that Duke knocked down 13 or more triples in an ACC game.
15 of Duke's 16 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages. Georgia Tech's 46 points were 36.8 fewer than its average of 72.8.
As a team, Virginia Tech ranks among the top-10 nationally in threes per game (6th), assist/turnover ratio (7th), blocks per game (8th), free throw percentage (8th) and fewest turnovers per game (9th).
Georgia Amoore checks in at No. 3 and No. 4 in the NCAA, respectively, in assists per game and total assists. Elizabeth Kitley is fourth nationally in total field goals and double doubles while also ranking in the top 10 in defensive rebounds per game (6th), rebounds per game (7th), points per game (9th) and total rebounds (10th).

BLOCK PARTY – EVERYONE'S INVITED

The Blue Devils' length has proven to be a factor on the defensive end this season as the squad averages 7.2 blocks per game -- No. 2 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 16).
Duke has registered five or more blocks in 14 games this season, including a pair of ball games with double-digit swats -- Coastal Carolina (12) and NC Central (11) -- as well as a quintet of contests with eight or more rejections -- at Stanford, vs. South Carolina, vs. Florida Gulf Coast, vs. Boston College, at Virginia.
Rookie Jadyn Donovan has denied 28 shots (1.8 bpg) -- fourth in the ACC -- and leads four Duke players with double-digit blocks on the year. She is joined by the upperclassmen forward duo of Camilla Emsbo (26) and Kennedy Brown (19) and classmate Delaney Thomas with 10.
Emsbo checks in at No. 5 in the league in both total rejections and blocks per game (1.63).
The Blue Devils' blocks per game average (7.2) is the highest by a Duke squad since the 2004-05 season and would check in at No. 3 all-time in the Duke Team Single Season Records for highest blocked shot average if the 2023-24 slate ended today.

A BATTLE TESTED BUNCH – STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

The Blue Devils have embarked on one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA this season.
Duke's strength of schedule ranks among the top 10, checking in at No. 8 nationally -- second in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 16).
Two of the teams the Blue Devils have played so far this season also boast a top-30 SOS -- Stanford (2nd), Georgia (17th).
The Blue Devils' schedule has continued to get progressively more challenging each year under Coach Lawson. Duke finished the 2022-23 season having played the 10th toughest schedule in the NCAA.

SUPERLATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Duke's reserves are providing a spark for the Blue Devils, boasting an average of 25.3 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored more bench points than their foes in 14 games, totaling 405 points while opponents have put up just 198.
In seven of the games, the Blue Devils have finished with a substantial margin in bench production -- 34-15 (Richmond), 24-6 (Coastal Carolina), 28-5 (at Stanford), 33-11 (NC Central, 22-12 (South Carolina), 28-4 (FGCU), 42-8 (Coppin State), 40-12 (Georgia Tech).
Duke has had strong production on the offensive glass this season, tallying 12.9 offensive rebounds per game. The Blue Devils have parlayed those extra possessions into 192 second-chance points. Duke has held the advantage in eight games, including sizeable margins against Richmond (18-5) and Coastal Carolina (20-2).
On the fastbreak, the Blue Devils hold a 196-98 edge and have limited 12 opponents to fewer than eight points in transition.
Duke has commanded the inside this season, outscoring its foes 546-404.
The Blue Devils are plus nine in the paint compared to their opponents, 34.1 to 25.3, and have finished with double-digit margins in 10 contests.

HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE

Duke has knocked down 101 threes this season – an average of 6.3 per game. The Blue Devils are cashing in their triples at a .353 percent clip and have knocked down at least five threes in 10 games, including eight contests with seven or more.
Five Blue Devils have cashed in double-digit trifectas -- Ashlon Jackson (24), Taina Mair (18), Oluchi Okananwa (17), Emma Koabel (16), Reigan Richardson (16).
Earlier this season Duke set a single-game record for most threes in a game, knocking down 14 against Coastal Carolina.
Duke shot a season-best 59.1 percent from distance in the victory over Georgia Tech (1.14.24) cashing in 13 of 22 attempts. It marked the first time since Jan. 15, 2005, against Boston College that Duke knocked down 13 or more triples in an ACC game.
If the 2023-24 campaign ended today, Duke's 6.31 triples per game would rank second on the Duke single season charts for average three-pointers made. Duke averaged 7.25 in 2020-21, but only played four games.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils head up the road to Raleigh for an in-state matchup against No. 4 NC State on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 12 p.m., live on ACCN.

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