Duke Set to Host Rival North Carolina in NGWSD Game

Sunday, February 11

Durham, N.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

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Ashlon Jackson introduced during starting lineups

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Set to Host Rival North Carolina in NGWSD Game

2/10/2024 5:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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THE OPENING TIP

It's rivalry weekend in Durham for Duke women's basketball as the Blue Devils gear up to take on North Carolina in its National Women and Girls in Sports Day game.
The matchup is slated for a 2 p.m., tipoff live on ACC Network with Pam Ward and Stephanie White on the call.
Duke and North Carolina's rivalry has featured 106 matchups all-time, the Tar Heels holding a slim, 54-52 advantage. When playing in Durham, Duke owns a 28-16 mark.
The Blue Devils and Tar Heels met three times last season -- North Carolina won the first two matchups while Duke took the final matchup, 44-40, in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinal.
Duke has been very solid at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2023-24 campaign, winning eight consecutive contests at home while posting 11 wins through 13 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 four wins at the crib -- two coming over ranked opponents -- Duke has held its opponent to just 46 points.
The Blue Devils rank third nationally in blocks per game with an average of 6.3 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 9). Graduate student Camilla Emsbo and rookie Jadyn Donovan lead the way with 34 and 30 rejections, respectively.
In addition to leading the league in blocks, the Blue Devils also rank among the top five in the ACC in nine additional categories.
On the defensive end, Duke sits atop the ACC in rebounding defense (30.0), scoring defense (57.3) and field goal percentage defense (.360). The squad also ranks second in rebounding margin -- a +7.5 advantage -- and defensive rebounding percentage (.727), fourth in scoring margin (+9.6) and fifth in forced turnovers per game (16.8).
Offensively, the Blue Devils rank second in field goal percentage (.457) and fourth in offensive rebound percentage (.351) and assists (14.91).
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS currently ranks 16 nationally. The Blue Devils are also slotted 23rd in the NET rankings (as of Feb. 9).
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Reigan Richardson (11.4), Oluchi Okananwa (11.0), Taina Mair (10.7).
Duke has assists on more than 50 percent of its field goals (.554) with 330 dimes on 595 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.6 dimes per contest.
21 of Duke's 22 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages. Wake Forest's 46 points were 13 points fewer than its average of 59.0.
Deja Kelly leads three double-figure scorers at 16.8 points and is joined by Alyssa Ustby (12.3) and Lexi Donarski (10.2). Ustby also paces the efforts on the glass (9.8) and the assist department (3.7).
In the national rankings, Kelly ranks second in free throw attempts and ninth in total free throws while Ustby checks in at No. 6 in triple doubles.

BLUE DEVILS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY SUNDAY

This past Wednesday (Feb. 7) marked the 38th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a celebration inspiring girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. NGWSD honors the achievements of girls and women in sports and continues to Lead Her Forward by acknowledging the power of sports to unlock her limitless potential.
On Sunday, Duke women's basketball will celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day when the Blue Devils take on North Carolina at 2 p.m.
Pre-registered junior Blue Devil fans will take part in a pregame high five tunnel as the players hit the court for warmups.
Additionally, other Duke women's sports team will be in attendance and there will be in-game recognition, giveaways and so much more to celebrate this vibrant movement.

RULE OF 46

Duke has been very solid at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2023-24 campaign, winning eight consecutive contests at home while posting 11 wins through 13 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 four wins at the crib -- 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). On Thursday, the magic number appeared again as Duke limited Wake Forest to only 19 second-half points en route to the 69-46 victory.
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 6.3 blocks per game -- No. 3 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 9).
Duke has registered five or more blocks in 17 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 34 and 30 rejections, respectively. They are joined in double digits by senior Kennedy Brown (28) 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 (6.3) is the highest by a Duke squad since the 2006-07 season and would rank fifth 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

Duke has embarked on one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA this season.
Duke's strength of schedule currently ranks among the top 20, checking in at No. 16 nationally (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 9). The Blue Devils are in the top 25 of the NCAA NET, ranking No. 23 on the list.
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.
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 five more.
Three of the teams Duke has played so far this season also boast a top-30 SOS -- Stanford (1st), Wake Forest (10th), NC State (14th).
Additionally, Duke owns several notable non-conference wins over teams that currently lead or rank among the top three in their respective conferences:
- Nov. 6 – 83-53 vs. Richmond (currently 20-4, 2nd place in A-10 with 10-1 conference record)
- Nov. 14 – 66-62 at Columbia (currently 16-5, 2nd in Ivy League standings at 7-1)
- Dec. 10 – 82-63 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (currently 20-4, 1st place (10-0) in ASUN)
- Dec. 20 – 70-45 vs. Toledo (currently 17-4, Tied for 1st in the MAC via a 10-1 mark).

HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE

Duke has knocked down 132 threes this season – an average of 6.0 per game. The Blue Devils are cashing in their triples at a .339 percent clip and have made at least five threes in 12 games, including 10 contests with seven or more.
Five Blue Devils have cashed in double-digit trifectas -- Ashlon Jackson (31), Taina Mair (27), Oluchi Okananwa (24), Reigan Richardson (20) and Emma Koabel (19).
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 6.0 triples per game would rank fourth 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 are on the road for two of their next three, starting with a midweek trip to Blacksburg, Va., for a Thursday night showdown at No. 16 Virginia Tech. The game is slated for an 8 p.m., tip live on ACC Network.

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

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