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7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Thursday, January 4
Louisville, Ky.
8 p.m.
Duke University
at
Louisville
Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics
Duke Gears Up for ACC Test at No. 17 Louisville
1/3/2024 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
THE OPENING TIP
LAST TIME OUT
BLOCK PARTY – EVERYONE'S INVITED
HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE
SUPERLATIVE SPOTLIGHT
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils make the trek to the Old Dominion State this weekend for a battle at Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 7. The game tips off at noon live on The CW.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
- Duke hits the road for its next two contests beginning with a trip to Louisville, Ky., for a date with the Cardinals on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. Angel Gray and Aja Ellison are set to call the action live on ACC Network.
- Thursday represents the 12th meeting between Duke and Louisville with the Cardinals holding a 7-4 edge. Last time the teams squared off (1.1.23), the Blue Devils defeated Louisville, 63-56, snapping a five-game skid to the Cardinals.
- The Blue Devils are coming off their best shooting performance of the season after turning in scorching shooting splits from the field (63.8) and beyond the arc (57.1) in the 80-75 win over Boston College.
- It marked the first time in seven seasons the Blue Devils finished the game shooting 60 percent or better from the floor. The last time this happened was Nov. 25, 2016, against Long Beach State.
- With the victory over the Eagles, Duke completed its four-game homestand at 4-0. The Blue Devils won by an average of 20.8 points per game including dominant victories over Florida Gulf Coast (82-63), Toledo (70-45) and Coppin State (68-34).
- Kiki Jefferson and Olivia Cochran lead the charge for the Cardinals on the offensive end with the duo averaging 12.3 and 11.8 points per game, respectively.
- Getting to the charity stripe appears to be a key component of the Louisville offense as the Cardinals check in at No. 15 in the NCAA in free throws made per game with an average of 16.6 per contest.
- Louisville also ranks 27th nationally in free throw percentage (77.6) and 32nd in attempts per game (21.4).
- Duke ranks third nationally in blocks per game with an average of 7.2 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Dec. 31).
- Four Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Taina Mair (11.8), Reigan Richardson (11.4), Ashlon Jackson (10.8) and Oluchi Okananwa (10.6).
- Duke has assists on more than 50 percent of its field goals (.524) with 193 dimes on 368 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.62 dimes per contest.
- 12 of Duke's 13 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages.
- Senior Kennedy Brown has come on strong offensively for the Blue Devils as of late. She is averaging 10.2 points and 4.0 rebounds over her last five games and has reached double figures in three of the last four.
LAST TIME OUT
- Sophomore Taina Mair scored 21 points and rookie Oluchi Okananwa added 16 points to lead the Blue Devils to an 80-75 victory over Boston College in women's basketball action at Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday afternoon.
- Junior Reigan Richardson and sophomore Ashlon Jackson also finished in double figures for Duke with 13 and 12 points apiece, respectively.
- The Blue Devils shot an impressive 64 percent (30-of-47) from the field and 8-of-14 (57 percent) from distance in the game. On the defensive end, Duke blocked nine shots and held the Eagles to just 37 percent shooting from the floor and seven three-pointers on the afternoon.
- Sunday's game marked the first time in seven seasons the Blue Devils have finished the game shooting 60 percent or better from the floor. The last time that happened was Nov. 25, 2016, against Long Beach State.
- Duke shot a blistering 71.4 percent (20-for-28) from the field in the opening half, tied for the third highest first-half field goal percentage by Duke all-time.
- The Blue Devils have now held 12 of their 13 opponents this season below their respective scoring averages. The Eagles scored 75 points, three fewer than their average of 78.2.
- Duke won the battle in bench points (18-15) and fastbreak points (14-10).
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.3 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Dec. 31).
- Duke has registered five or more blocks in 11 games this season, including a pair of ball games with double-digit swats -- Coastal Carolina (12) and NC Central (11) -- as well as a quartet of contests with eight or more rejections -- at Stanford, vs. South Carolina, vs. Florida Gulf Coast, vs. Boston College.
- Rookie Jadyn Donovan has denied 24 shots and leads four Duke players with double-digit blocks on the year. She is joined by the upperclassmen forward duo of Camilla Emsbo (20) and Kennedy Brown (13) and classmate Delaney Thomas with 10.
- 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.
HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE
- Duke has knocked down 84 threes this season – an average of 6.5 per game. The Blue Devils are cashing in their triples at a .370 percent clip and have knocked down at least five threes in nine games, including seven with seven or more.
- Five Blue Devils have cashed in double-digit trifectas -- Ashlon Jackson (21), Reigan Richardson (16), Emma Koabel (14), Taina Mair (14), Oluchi Okananwa (12).
- 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 57.1 percent from distance in the victory over Boston College (12.31.23) cashing in eight of 14 attempts.
- If the 2023-24 campaign ended today, Duke's 6.3 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.
SUPERLATIVE SPOTLIGHT
- Duke's reserves are providing a spark for the Blue Devils, boasting an average of 25.1 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored more bench points than their foes in 11 games, totaling 326 points while opponents have put up just 155.
- In six 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).
- Duke has had strong production on the offensive glass this season, tallying 12.7 offensive rebounds per game.
- The Blue Devils have parlayed those extra possessions into 162 second-chance points, 16 points better than their opponents (146). Duke has held the advantage in seven games, including sizeable margins against Richmond (18-5) and Coastal Carolina (20-2).
- On the fastbreak, the Blue Devils hold a 177-71 edge and have limited 11 opponents to fewer than eight points in transition. The lone teams to eclipse 10 points are South Carolina (12) and Boston College (10).
- Duke has commanded the inside early in the season, outscoring its foes 458-346.
- The Blue Devils are plus nine in points in the paint compared to their opponents, 35.2 to 26.6, and have finished with double-digit margins in eight contests.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils make the trek to the Old Dominion State this weekend for a battle at Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 7. The game tips off at noon live on The CW.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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