Blue Devils Head to Sunshine State for ACC Tilt at Miami

Sunday, January 28

Coral Gables, Fla.

2 p.m.

Duke University

Miami

Jadyn Donovan shoots a jumper over FSU's Timpson

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Head to Sunshine State for ACC Tilt at Miami

1/27/2024 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch (ACCN)Listen Duke Notes (PDF)Miami Notes (PDF)

THE OPENING TIP

Duke hits the road for its next two ACC games, starting with a trip to Coral Gables this weekend for a Sunday afternoon tilt at Miami.
The game is slated for a 2 p.m., tip off with Angel Gray and Aja Ellison calling the action live on ACC Network.
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS currently ranks seventh nationally and second among ACC teams. The Blue Devils are also slotted 21st in the NET rankings (as of Jan. 25).
On Thursday, the Blue Devils closed out another challenging stretch of games that saw the team face three consecutive ranked opponents over a week -- No. 14 Virginia Tech, at No. 4 NC State and No. 23 Florida State
Duke finished the three-game slate with a pair of dominant dubs, dismantling both the Hokies (63-46) and Seminoles (88-46).
In the win over Florida State, the Blue Devils finished the game with three starters and five players in double figures while the Duke defense forced FSU into its lowest scoring and shooting outputs of the season.
The 42-point triumph was the largest margin of victory for Duke over a top-25 opponent since the 2000-01 campaign, when the Blue Devils declawed No. 15/16 Clemson, 92-42 (1.28.01).
Additionally, with the victory, Coach Lawson now owns at least one win over each of the other 14 ACC institutions.
17 of the 22 all-time matchups between Duke and Miami have gone the way of the Blue Devils. Duke is 7-3 when playing the Hurricanes in Coral Gables.
The No. 9 Blue Devils took the lone matchup of the 2022-23 campaign via a 60-50 dub at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke ranks second nationally in blocks per game with an average of 6.8 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 25). Graduate student Camilla Emsbo and rookie Jadyn Donovan lead the way with 31 and 29 rejections, respectively -- good for fourth and fifth in the ACC.
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Reigan Richardson (11.4), Oluchi Okananwa (10.8), Taina Mair (10.7).
Duke has assists on more than 50 percent of its field goals (.540) with 282 dimes on 522 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.68 dimes per contest.
18 of Duke's 19 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages. Florida State's 46 points were 37.5 points fewer than its average of 83.5.
Miami checks in 12th nationally in bench scoring with an average of 28.3 a game.

RULE OF 46

Duke has been very solid at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2023-24 campaign, winning seven consecutive contests at home while posting 10 wins through a dozen games overall.
Forty-six has been a recurring number for the Blue Devils at home this season, especially as of late.
In each of the last three wins at the crib -- the last two coming over ranked opponents -- Duke has held its opponent to just 46 points.
Duke opened the stretch posting an 84-46 dub over Georgia Tech, then followed that up with victories over No. 14 Virginia Tech (63-46) and No. 23 Florida State (88-46).
The Blue Devils also posted a 46-point triumph earlier in the season as they dismantled Coastal Carolina, 88-42, back on Nov. 9.

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 6.8 blocks per game -- No. 2 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 25).
Duke has registered five or more blocks in 16 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.
Graduate student Camilla Emsbo and rookie Jadyn Donovan lead the way with 31 and 29 rejections, respectively -- good for fourth and fifth in the ACC. They are joined in double digits by senior Kennedy Brown (26) and freshman Delaney Thomas with 11.
In the victory over Florida State (1.25), Brown set the Duke record for most blocks in a first quarter, tallying four of her game-high five rejections during the period.
The Blue Devils' blocks per game average (6.8) is the highest by a Duke squad since the 2003-04 season and would be tied for third 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. 7 nationally -- second in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 25). Duke is also in the top 25 of the NCAA NET, ranking No. 21 on the list.
The Blue Devils have faced six opponents ranked in the AP Top-25 thus far this season (2-4), with the potential to play up to six more games against ranked foes.
Five of the teams the Blue Devils have played so far this season also boast a top-30 SOS -- Stanford (2nd), Clemson (19th), NC State (21st), South Carolina (23rd) and Georgia (26th) .
The Blue Devils' schedule has gotten 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 24.6 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored more bench points than their foes in 16 games, totaling 468 points while opponents have put up just 228.
In nine of the games, the Blue Devils have finished with at least a 10-point margin in bench production.
Duke has had strong production on the offensive glass this season, tallying 12.5 offensive rebounds per game. The Blue Devils have held the advantage on the offensive boards in 11 games and parlayed the extra possessions into 224 total second-chance points.
On the fastbreak, the Blue Devils hold a 249-119 edge and have limited 15 opponents to fewer than eight points in transition. Duke held Virginia Tech to zero transition points in the 17-point victory over the Hokies (1.18).
Duke has commanded the inside this season, outscoring its foes 652-460. The Blue Devils are plus 10 in the paint compared to their opponents, 34.3 to 24.2, and have finished with double-digit margins in 11 contests.

HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE

Duke has knocked down 117 threes this season – an average of 6.2 per game. The Blue Devils are cashing in their triples at a .348 percent clip and have made at least five threes in 11 games, including nine contests with seven or more.
Five Blue Devils have cashed in double-digit trifectas -- Ashlon Jackson (29), Taina Mair (24), Oluchi Okananwa (20), Emma Koabel (17) and 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) draining 13 of 22 attempts. It marked the first time since Jan. 15, 2005, against Boston College, Duke knocked down 13 or more triples in an ACC game.
If the 2023-24 campaign ended today, Duke's 6.2 triples per game would rank third 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
Duke travels to the Keystone State to close out its two-game road swing, taking on Pitt Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., live on ACCNX.

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

Duke Centennial In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu.

#GoDuke