Duke Hosts California in ACC Top-20 Showdown

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 16 Duke tips off a two-game homestand, starting with a midweek tilt against ACC newcomer California Thursday, Jan. 16. Action is slated to get going at 8 p.m., live on ACC Network.

THE OPENING TIP:

Thursday's tilt marks the fifth all-time meeting between Duke and California and the first since the 2013-14 season. Duke holds a 3-1 advantage in the series.
The Blue Devils have won two straight against the Golden Bears, including a 12-point triumph, 70-58, in the most recent matchup (11.10.13).
Thursday's game versus California (Jan. 16) and Sunday's tilt against Stanford (Jan. 19) have been designated as the Blue Devils' 'We Back Pat' games for the 2024-25 season.
Duke's coaching staff will don purple quarter zips during the game in support of 'We Back Pat' Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation and its fight against Alzheimer's disease.
'We Back Pat' week started in 2012 in the SEC to show support for legendary Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt after her diagnosis of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Since then, 'We Back Pat' games have been adopted by high schools and colleges across the country to support Pat's legacy, raise funds for the Pat Summitt Foundation and promote awareness.
Duke checks in at No. 16 in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 poll and 11th in the latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. Duke's Strength of Schedule (SOS) is also No. 2 nationally.
In the NCAA rankings, Duke ranks in the top 30 of four categories - bench points per game (8th), rebounding margin (21st), offensive rebounds per game (21st, 15.3) and assist average (27th). Individually, Ashlon Jackson is 30th in three point percentage (43.0%).
Duke has seen an uptick on the defensive end over the past month, with flashes of the stifling Duke defense of the past two seasons emerging.
In ACC play, Duke has held each opponent well below its respective season scoring average, holding foes to 51.4 points on 35.1% shooting. The Blue Devils also average 12.6 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while forcing the opposition into 24 turnovers (23.8).
The Blue Devils sit atop the league in scoring defense (51.4), field goal percentage defense (.351), three point percentage defense (.233), steals (12.6) and turnover margin (+6.20). Duke is also No. 2 in blocks and No. 4 in rebounding defense (33.8).
Since the calendar hit December, Oluchi Okananwa has found her offensive rhythm. She has reached double figures in five of her last eight, putting up 11.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists during the span.
Duke boasts one of its most potent offenses in recent memory, putting up 77.1 points per game on 46% shooting from the field and 36% from deep.
Duke's balanced attack is led by the trio of Toby Fournier (11.9), Ashlon Jackson (11.7) and Reigan Richardson (11.6). Overall, Duke has had eight different leading scorers with nine players reaching double figures thus far.
Duke has looked to make the extra pass with nearly 60% of the team's field goals coming via assists. The Blue Devils have dropped 295 dimes on 503 buckets (.586).
The Blue Devils rank 27th nationally in assist average with 17.4 dimes per game (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 15). Taina Mair has been steady quarterbacking the Duke offense this season, averaging 3.9 assists per contest.

WE BACK PAT:

Thursday's game versus California (Jan. 16) and Sunday's tilt against Stanford (Jan. 19) have been designated as the Blue Devils' 'We Back Pat' games for the 2024-25 season.
Duke's coaching staff will don purple quarter zips during the game in support of 'We Back Pat' Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation and its fight against Alzheimer's disease.
'We Back Pat' week started in 2012 in the SEC to show support for legendary Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt after her diagnosis of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Since then, 'We Back Pat' games have been adopted by high schools and colleges across the country to support Pat's legacy, raise funds for the Pat Summitt Foundation and promote awareness.
In January 2025, schools across the country will host 'We Back Pat' games to raise funds for the Pat Summitt Foundation and awareness for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, while remembering legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt.
'We Back Pat' week is especially meaningful to Duke head coach Kara Lawson and assistant coach Kyra Elzy, who both played at the University of Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summit. Elzy and Lawson were teammates during the 1999-00 season, leading the Lady Vols to a 33-4 record and runner-up finish in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER:

Duke boasts one of its most potent offenses in recent memory, putting up 77.1 points per game on 46% shooting from the field and 36% from deep.
The Blue Devils' scoring average and field goal percentage are program bests dating back to the 2013-14 and 2016-17 campaigns, respectively.
Duke has scored 70+ points and featured at least three double-figure scorers in 13 of 17 games. The Blue Devils opened the 2024-25 slate with 12 consecutive 70-plus point outings - the stretch marking a program best.
The Blue Devils have shot at a 50-percent clip in eight games and finished with at least five double-digit scorers four times. Duke has eclipsed the 80-point threshold eight times and scored 90-plus points on two occasions.
Duke's balanced attack is led by the trio of Toby Fournier (11.9), Ashlon Jackson (11.7) and Reigan Richardson (11.6). Overall, Duke has had eight different leading scorers with nine players reaching double figures thus far.
Nine players average at least 10 minutes per game with five playing 20-plus - Reigan Richardson (28.1), Ashlon Jackson (27.3), Taina Mair (25.3), Jadyn Donovan (24.0) and Delaney Thomas (21.6).
Duke's 109 points against Oklahoma (11.27) were the Blue Devils' most against a ranked foe since Jan. 24, 2002, when the team scored 102 points in a 20-point triumph over No. 21 North Carolina.
The Blue Devils have eclipsed the 100-point threshold three times under Kara Lawson with the 109 points ranking second in the Kara Era - just two shy of the 111 scored against Charleston Southern in 2022-23.

OKANANWA FINDING THE RHYTHM:

Since the calendar hit December, Oluchi Okananwa has found her offensive rhythm. She has reached double figures in five of her last eight, putting up 11.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists during the span.
Okananwa most recently spearheaded Duke's comeback win at Virginia, scoring 14 of her 17 points after halftime to help propel the Blue Devils to a 60-55 win.
The sophomore posted a season-high 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Blue Devils' victory over Wofford (12.18). Prior to that, she tallied 12 points in back-to-back games at South Carolina (12.5) and versus Virginia Tech (12.8). Okananwa collected seven boards against the Gamecocks, then completed the double-double against the Hokies with 12 rebounds while also adding two steals and two blocks.
In the win over Boston College (1.2), Okananwa put up 12 points (4-of-5) and five rebounds. The sophomore also chipped in nine points, nine boards and three assists at South Florida (12.21).

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS – DUKE DEFENSE RETURNING TO FORM IN ACC PLAY:

Duke has seen an uptick on the defensive end over the last month, with flashes of the stifling Duke defense of the past two seasons emerging.
In ACC play, Duke has held each opponent well below their respective season scoring average, holding foes to 51.4 points on 35.1% shooting.
The Blue Devils also average 12.6 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while forcing the opposition into 24 turnovers (23.8).
The Blue Devils are ranked in the top five of six defensive categories, sitting atop the league in scoring defense (51.4), field goal percentage defense (.351), three point percentage defense (.233), steals (12.6) and turnover margin (+6.20). Duke is also No. 2 in blocks and No. 4 in rebounding defense (33.8).

UP NEXT:
Duke welcomes Stanford to Cameron Indoor Stadium for a Sunday matinee and the first tilt as ACC foes Jan. 19. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m., live on ESPN2.

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

50 Seasons of Duke Women's Basketball
The 2024-25 season marks the 50th anniversary of Duke women's basketball, a program rich in tradition, excellence and success. From its early foundations to national dominance, the Blue Devils have become a powerhouse in both athletics and academics. Join us in commemorating five decades of sisterhood, championships and iconic moments as we set the stage for the next 50 years. For more information, please visit goduke.com/WBB50.

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Duke Hosts California in ACC Top-20 Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Jadyn Donovan

Toby Fournier

Ashlon Jackson

Taina Mair

Oluchi Okananwa

Reigan Richardson

Delaney Thomas

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Duke Hosts California in ACC Top-20 Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Jadyn Donovan

Toby Fournier

Ashlon Jackson

Taina Mair

Oluchi Okananwa

Reigan Richardson

Delaney Thomas

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