Blue Devils Primed for Thursday Matchup Versus Wake Forest

Thursday, February 8

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

Wake Forest

Tickets

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Primed for Thursday Matchup Versus Wake Forest

2/7/2024 11:56:00 AM | Women's Basketball

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THE OPENING TIP

Duke returns to Bull City for three of its next four games, starting with a midweek tilt against Wake Forest on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Dean Linke and Debbie Taylor will call the action live on ACCNX.
Thursday's game is also Duke's 'Honoring Black Excellence' night.
Duke and Wake Forest have battled on the hardwood 90 times in their respective histories with the Blue Devils holding a 70-20 advantage in the series all-time.
When playing in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils are 32-8 against the Demon Deacons.
In last season's lone meeting -- Jan. 5, 2023 -- No. 19 Duke used a late second-quarter surge to battle past Wake Forest, 60-50.
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS currently ranks fifth nationally and first among ACC teams. The Blue Devils are also slotted 23rd in the NET rankings (as of Feb. 5).
The Blue Devils rank second nationally in blocks per game with an average of 6.4 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 5). Graduate student Camilla Emsbo and rookie Jadyn Donovan lead the way with 34 and 29 rejections, respectively.
In the ACC rankings, Duke sits atop the league in rebounding defense (31.1), scoring defense (58.4) and field goal percentage defense (.362). The squad also ranks second in rebounding margin -- a +6.9 advantage, third in defensive rebounding percentage (.723) and fifth in scoring margin (+8.30).
Offensively, the Blue Devils rank second in field goal percentage (.453) and fourth in offensive rebound percentage (.343) and assists (15.10).
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Reigan Richardson (11.6), Oluchi Okananwa (10.8), Taina Mair (10.4).
Duke has assists on more than 50 percent of its field goals (.558) with 317 dimes on 568 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.6 dimes per contest.
20 of Duke's 21 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages. Pitt's 38 points were 26.2 points fewer than its average of 64.2.

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. 2 in the NCAA and tops in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 5).
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 29 rejections, respectively. 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 (6.4) 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 10, checking in at No. 5 nationally -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 5). 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 (2nd), NC State (20th), South Carolina (25th).
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 19-4, Tied for 2nd place in A-10 with 9-1 conference record)
- Nov. 14 – 66-62 at Columbia (currently 15-5, 2nd in Ivy League standings at 6-1)
- Dec. 10 – 82-63 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (currently 19-4, 1st place (9-0) in ASUN)
- Dec. 20 – 70-45 vs. Toledo (currently 16-4, 2nd in the MAC via a 9-1 mark).

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.

HITTIN' FROM DISTANCE

Duke has knocked down 128 threes this season – an average of 6.1 per game. The Blue Devils are cashing in their triples at a .343 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 (30), Taina Mair (26), Oluchi Okananwa (22), 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 6.1 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 hosts rival North Carolina in its National Women and Girls in Sports Day game. The matchup is slated for Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., 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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