Duke Set to Host No. 16 Notre Dame in Annual Pink Game

Monday, February 19

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

Notre Dame

Tickets

Duke starting five huddles up before play starts

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke Set to Host No. 16 Notre Dame in Annual Pink Game

2/18/2024 11:59:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch (ESPN2)Listen Duke Notes (PDF)Notre Dame Notes (PDF)Digital Game Program

THE OPENING TIP

Duke tips off the week with another ACC test, playing host to No. 16 Notre Dame on Monday, February 19 at 7 p.m., in the Blue Devils' annual Pink Game. The action is set to air live on ESPN2 with Beth Mowins and Stephanie White on the call.
The Blue Devils are amid another daunting stretch of games to close out the regular season slate, with three of their final five games coming against Top-25 teams -- Notre Dame (#16), Syracuse (#19) and NC State (#6).
Duke and Notre Dame meet for the 22nd time on Monday. The Fighting Irish hold a 17-4 lead all-time, but Duke has won three straight in the series, including a thrilling, 57-52, road victory last season in South Bend (2.5.23).
The Blue Devils are looking to bounce back from Thursday's hard-fought setback at Virginia Tech. Duke is 5-2 this season when coming off a loss.
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS checks in at No. 8 nationally (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 16). The Blue Devils are also in the top 25 of the NCAA NET, ranking No. 21 in that metric.
The Blue Devils rank third nationally in blocks per game with an average of 6.4 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 16). Graduate student Camilla Emsbo, senior Kennedy Brown and rookie Jadyn Donovan have all posted 30-plus blocks each, leading the way with 36, 33 and 30 rejections, respectively.
In addition to leading the league in rejections, 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 (31.5) and scoring defense (57.8).
The squad also ranks second in defensive points per possession (0.723), field goal percentage defense (.356) and rebounding margin -- a +5.9 advantage, and fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (.705) scoring margin (+8.4).
Offensively, the Blue Devils rank second in field goal percentage (.449) and fourth in offensive rebounding percentage (.350).
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Reigan Richardson (11.2), Oluchi Okananwa (10.8), Taina Mair (10.5).
The Blue Devils have assists on more than 50 percent of their field goals (.549) with 350 dimes on 638 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.5 per contest.
23 of Duke's 24 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages. Virginia Tech's 61 points were 16.3 points below its average of 77.3.
As a team Notre Dame ranks among the top-15 nationally in scoring offense (11th), scoring margin (12th) and steals per game (12th).
In the individual NCAA rankings, Hidalgo is slotted among the top 10 in eight different categories -- steals/steals per game (1st), total points/points per game (3rd), triple doubles (6th), field goals/field goal attempts (7th) and free throw attempts (9th).

BLUE DEVILS' PINK GAME SLATED FOR MONDAY, FEB. 19

Duke women's basketball's annual Pink Game is slated for Monday, February 19, 2024, at 7 p.m., when the Blue Devils welcome No. 16 Notre Dame to historic Cameron Indoor Stadium.
All survivors and those actively fighting breast cancer were encouraged to register for the pregame Survivor Reception, which begins at 5:30 p.m., in the Hall of Honor.
In addition to the pregame reception, breast cancer survivors will also receive a complimentary ticket for themselves and one guest, a t-shirt, an on-court photo op and have an opportunity for a meet-and-greet with Coach Lawson.

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 6.4 blocks per game -- No. 3 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 16).
Duke has registered five or more blocks in 19 games this season, including a pair of games with double-digit swats -- Coastal Carolina (12) and NC Central (11) -- as well as six contests with eight or more rejections -- at Stanford, vs. South Carolina, vs. Florida Gulf Coast, vs. Boston College, at Virginia, vs. North Carolina.
Graduate student Camilla Emsbo, senior Kennedy Brown and rookie Jadyn Donovan have posted 30-plus blocks each, leading the way with 37, 33 and 30 rejections, respectively. They are joined in double digits by freshman Delaney Thomas with 12.
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 (6.4) is the highest by a Duke squad since the 2006-07 season and would rank fifth all-time in the Duke Single Season Records for highest blocked shot average if the 2023-24 slate ended today.

DEFENSIVE CONSISTENCY – BROWN ANCHORING THE DEFENSIVE SHIP

Senior Kennedy Brown, Duke's defensive anchor and arguably one of the best defenders in the NCAA, has been a vital part of the team's defensive uptick over the last two seasons.
Prior to her arrival ahead of the 2022-23 season, the Blue Devils ranked 64th nationally in blocks per game, 148th in scoring defense and 156th in field goal percentage defense. The league standings saw Duke check in at No. 6, No. 8 and No. 11 in these respective metrics while also ranking 10th in defensive rebounding percentage.
In just her first season with the Blue Devils, Brown helped Duke make a seismic leap on the defensive end as the team finished the 2022-23 campaign ranked second in the NCAA in scoring defense, tied for fourth in defensive points per possession, ninth in field goal percentage defense and 10th in blocks per game.
The newly revamped and disruptive Duke defense also held each of its opponents below their season scoring average, including 17 of them to 50 points or less.
Although Duke features almost an entirely different team this season, with Brown patrolling the paint, one thing has remained the same -- the Blue Devils still boast one of the top defenses in the ACC and in the country.
Duke currently sits third nationally and first in the ACC in blocks per game while also leading the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense (ACC Only) for the second consecutive season -- the latter also ranked 17th in the NCAA.

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 10, checking in at No. 8 nationally (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 16). The Blue Devils are also in the top 25 of the NCAA NET, ranking No. 21 on the list.
The Blue Devils' schedule has gotten progressively more challenging each year under Coach Lawson. Duke finished the 2022-23 season with the 10th toughest schedule in the NCAA.
The Blue Devils have faced seven opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 thus far this season (2-5) with the potential to play up to four more.
Five of the teams Duke has played so far this season also boast a top-30 SOS -- Stanford (1st), Wake Forest (12th), North Carolina (13th), South Carolina (22nd) and NC State (24th).
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 21-4, Tied for 1st place in A-10 with 11-1 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 21-4, 1st place (11-0) in ASUN)
- Dec. 20 – 70-45 vs. Toledo (currently 18-4, Tied for 1st in the MAC via a 10-1 mark)

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils make the trek up north to Syracuse, N.Y., for a midweek battle against the 19th-ranked Orange Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., live on ACCN.

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