Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Baylor on November 3, 2025 at TBA
Women's Basketball
vs Baylor
Thursday, February 27
Durham, N.C.
7 p.m.
Duke University
vs
North Carolina
Photo by: Duke Athletics
No. 16 Duke Hosts Tar Heels on ESPN Thursday Night Hoops
2/26/2025 7:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – No. 16 Duke gears up for its final home game of the regular season, hosting No. 8 North Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., live on ESPN.
THE OPENING TIP:
OKANANWA FINDING HER RHYTHM:
UP NEXT:
The Blue Devils close out the regular season in the Sunshine State, making the trek to Tallahassee for a battle with No. 24 Florida State on Sunday, March 2. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., live on ACC Network.
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.
#GoDuke
THE OPENING TIP:
- The Blue Devils will celebrate and honor their two seniors, Vanessa de Jesus and Reigan Richardson, for their contributions to the program. Over their time in Durham, the duo has combined for 188 career games played and 158 wins while helping lead Duke to three consecutive 20-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2024 Sweet 16.
- Duke has been on a defensive tear since the schedule transitioned to ACC play, with the stifling Duke defense of the past two seasons coming back into the forefront. Duke has held 15 opponents below their respective season scoring averages, limiting foes to 53.9 points on 38-percent shooting and 0.66 points per possession.
- Overall, the Blue Devils have kept 23 opponents this season below their respective scoring average and 12 teams below 50 points, while also forcing 38 shot clock violations.
- Duke and North Carolina square off for the 110th time Thursday. UNC holds a slim edge, 56-53, in the all-time series, including a 53-45 overtime victory earlier this season on Jan. 9.
- The Blue Devils hold a 12-1 record at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. Over the past three years, Duke boasts a 40-6 (.870) overall mark at home. Duke is putting up 78.8 points on a scorching 48-percent clip when playing at home in 2024-25, outscoring opponents by an average of 28.7 points per contest.
- Duke has totaled 37 ACC dubs in the past three seasons, No. 2 in the conference. Notre Dame (43) is the only team to compile more wins than the Blue Devils during this stretch.
- Toby Fournier paces the Blue Devils in points (362), field goal percentage (.540), total field goals (136), free throws (86) and blocks (31). Fournier also ranks second on the team in rebounds (137). Fournier leads all ACC freshmen in field goals per game (5.0), two-point field goals (4.9) and attempts (8.9), free throws (3.2) and attempts (4.5) while being tied for first in offensive rebounds (2.0), per HerHoopStats (min. 15 games played).
- Per HerHoopStats, Fournier is the only freshman, one of two ACC players (Makayla Timpson) and one of just 12 players in the Power Four conferences overall averaging at least 13.0 points on 50-percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
- Oluchi Okananwa has elevated her play since the calendar hit December, taking her game to another level in ACC action. She is averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.6 assists, with 12 double-figure performances over this span.
- Ashlon Jackson has come on strong in ACC play, putting up 11.5 points on 35-percent shooting and 38 percent from deep. She is also averaging 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. She has reached double figures in 10 of her last 15, averaging 12.1 points on a 39-percent clip from three, along with 2.2 caroms, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals.
- Jadyn Donovan has been a mainstay on the glass this season with a team-leading 192 boards (6.9 rpg). She has snagged double-digit caroms seven times and finished with nine-plus rebounds nine times.
- She is one of five players in the ACC, and one of just 21 Power 4 conference players, averaging one block and one steal a game. Donovan is averaging 1.1 blocks and 1.6 steals in 2024-25.
- Taina Mair has done a great job quarterbacking the Duke offense this season, averaging 4.0 assists per contest. She has been extremely efficient with the basketball over her past 12 games, racking up 50 helpers to 16 turnovers for a 3.1 assist/turnover ratio.
- Duke has been on a defensive tear since the schedule transitioned to ACC play, with the stifling Duke defense of the past two seasons coming back into the forefront.
- In ACC play, Duke has held 15 opponents below their respective season scoring averages, limiting foes to 53.9 points on 38-percent shooting.
- Overall, the Blue Devils have kept 23 opponents this season below their respective scoring average and 12 teams below 50 points, while also forcing 38 shot clock violations.
- Duke is also averaging 10.9 steals and 4.7 blocks in league play while forcing the opposition into an ACC-best 22.8 turnovers per game.
- The Blue Devils rank in the top five of seven ACC defensive categories, sitting atop the league in scoring defense, steals and turnover margin (+8.1). Duke checks in at No. 2 in three point percentage defense (.276), field goal percentage defense and rebounding defense (33.3) and No. 4 in blocks.
- The Blue Devil defense has held ACC opponents to 0.66 points per possession, a vast improvement from the 0.86 defensive points per possession averaged in non-conference action.
- In Duke's win over No. 18 California (1.16), the Blue Devils forced the Golden Bears into 31 turnovers while holding them to just 38 points for the game. Cal's 38 points were the fewest by a ranked opponent all-time against Duke, with the 34-point margin marking the largest over a ranked foe since 2001, when Duke took down No. 15 Clemson, 92-42.
- Rookie Toby Fournier has enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign, putting the nation on notice she's a force to be reckoned with. She paces Duke in scoring (13.4) and is second on the glass with 5.1 boards.
- Fournier has reached double figures 17 times, netted eight 20-point outings - the most by ACC freshmen in 2024-25 - and led the team in scoring 11 times.
- She has displayed great efficiency from the floor, ranking 36th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (54.0%) and shooting 60 percent or higher 11 times this season, while averaging 1.01 points per possession and 0.68 points per minute. Fournier has also been hitting her freebies at a 71-percent clip (70-of-98), after shooting 55.2% (16-of-29) in the first six contests.
- Per HerHoopStats, Fournier is the only freshman, one of two ACC players (Makayla Timpson) and one of just 12 players in the Power Four conferences overall averaging at least 13.0 points on 50-percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
- With her eight contests this season of 20-plus points, Fournier is currently No. 2 on the Duke freshman charts for the most 20-point games as a rookie. She needs just two more to tie the school record of 10 games held by Blue Devil greats Alana Beard and Chris Moreland.
- Fournier has been crowned the USBWA Tamika Catching National Freshman of the Week twice this season (Nov. 25, Feb. 11) and has totaled five ACC Freshman of the Week honors - Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 20, Jan. 27 and Feb. 10, giving her the most FOTW selections by a Blue Devil in over a decade.
- Fournier leads all ACC freshmen in field goals per game (5.0), two-point field goals (4.9) and attempts (8.9), free throws (3.2) and attempts (4.5) while being tied for first in offensive rebounds (2.0), per HerHoopStats (min. 15 games played). She is also No. 2 in points (13.4) and blocks per game (1.2), tied for second in rebounds (5.1), No. 3 in field goal percentage (54.0%), tied for third in two-point field goal percentage (55.0%) and No. 4 in defensive rebounds per game (3.1).
- The Toronto, Canada product was tapped as one of 50 players to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Midseason Watch List and was recently named a World Exposure Report Freshman Player Of The Year Semifinalist.
- She posted her first career double-double in the 72-38 win over California (1.16), putting up 23 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. She was extremely efficient in the win, shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) from the field and 90 percent (9-of-10) from the charity stripe. Her nine free throws are tied for 10th all-time on the Duke freshman single-game records list.
- In the ACC opener against Virginia Tech (12.8), Fournier erupted for a career-high 27 points and nine rebounds. Her 27 points were the most points by a Duke freshman in an ACC opener all-time, with the 12 field goals tied for second on the freshman single-game records list with former Duke standout Alana Beard (3x)..
- The Blue Devils hold a 12-1 record at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. Over the past three years, Duke boasts a 40-6 (.870) overall mark at home.
- Duke is putting up 78.8 points on a scorching 48-percent clip when playing at home in 2024-25, outscoring opponents by an average of 28.7 points per contest.
- Duke has also enjoyed immense success in the ACC recently as the Blue Devils have reestablished themselves as one of the league's premier programs.
- Duke has totaled 37 ACC dubs in the past three seasons, No. 2 in the conference. The Blue Devils have 12 ACC wins in 2024-25 thus far, after posting 14 and 11, respectively, in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
- The Blue Devils have posted 10-plus ACC wins in three consecutive seasons, marking their longest streak in over a decade. The last time Duke posted three straight seasons with double-digit ACC victories was 2012-2015, when the team notched 17 (2012-13), 12 (2013-14) and 11 (2014-15) dubs, respectively.
- Notre Dame (43) is the only team to compile more wins than the Blue Devils during this stretch. NC State and Florida State each have 36 victories, with Louisville, North Carolina and Virginia Tech rounding out the group with 35.
OKANANWA FINDING HER RHYTHM:
- Since the calendar hit December, Oluchi Okananwa has found her offensive rhythm. Dating back to the game at South Carolina (12.5), Okananwa has elevated her play, taking it to another level in ACC action.
- The sophomore is averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.6 assists over the stretch, with 12 double-figure performances.
- Overall, Okananwa has reached double digits on 15 occasions this season, including 10 times in ACC play, and had 13 games with five-plus boards.
- Defensively, she leads Duke with 54 thefts (No. 7 in the ACC) and is 40th nationally in steal rate (4.4%), per HerHoopStats. Okananwa has eight games with three-plus steals, including a career-high of six at UNC (1.9).
- The sophomore put up back-to-back double-figure performances this past week, most recently scoring 13 points in the win over Syracuse (2.23), to go with six rebounds and three assists. She put up 17 to pace the Duke offense against Louisville (2.20).
- Okananwa netted nine of her 15 points in the second half to help lead the Blue Devils to a 72-47 win at Wake Forest (2.13). She chipped in 16 points and three rebounds in the dub over Miami (2.9) and prior to that, 14 points via a perfect shooting performance, going 5-of-5 from the field, 2-of-2 from distance and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe in the win against Clemson (2.6). She rounded out her night with three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- The sophomore guard helped propel the Blue Devils to a five-point win at Georgia Tech (1.26), scoring six of the team's 10 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the 55-50 win over the Yellow Jackets. She also spearheaded Duke's comeback win at Virginia (1.12), scoring 14 of her 17 points after halftime to help propel the Blue Devils to the 60-55 decision.
- Okananwa had a season-high 20 points, six caroms, five dimes and four steals in the win over Wofford (12.18). Prior to that, she had 12 points in games versus South Carolina (12.5) and Virginia Tech (12.8).
- She 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. Okananwa also put up 12 points at Boston College (1.2) and SMU (1.23).
- Duke has been extremely solid on the glass this season, checking in among the top 35 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (25th) and rebounding margin (34th).
- For the season, Duke averages 38.8 rebounds per game with nearly 15 of those coming on the offensive end. Duke has parlayed its extra opportunities into 412 second-chance points.
- Per HerHoopStats, Duke is ninth in the NCAA in offensive rebounding rate (40.4%), 13th in total offensive rebounds (412), 19th in offensive rebound average (14.7) and 25th in total rebound rate (54.8%).
- In ACC play, Duke is No. 1 in offensive rebound percentage (.396). Duke is also No. 2 in rebounding defense (33.3) and offensive rebounds per game (14.7) and tied for second in rebounding margin (+3.3).
- Jadyn Donovan has been a mainstay on the glass this season with a team-leading 192 boards (6.9 rpg). She has snagged double-digit caroms seven times and finished with nine-plus rebounds nine times.
- Seven other Blue Devils have tallied at least 60 boards this season - Toby Fournier (137), Oluchi Okananwa (136), Delaney Thomas (133), Jordan Wood (90), Taina Mair (79), Reigan Richardson (76) and Ashlon Jackson (62).
- Ashlon Jackson has come on strong in ACC play, putting up 11.5 points on 35-percent shooting and 38 percent from deep. She is also averaging 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
- The junior has reached double figures in 10 of her last 15, averaging 12.1 points on a 39-percent clip from three, along with 2.2 caroms, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals.
- Overall, this season, Jackson has netted five games with five-plus threes and tallied 16 games in double figures with four 20-point performances.
- In the NCAA rankings, the junior is 44th in three point percentage (40.9%) and 46th in three pointers made (65).
UP NEXT:
The Blue Devils close out the regular season in the Sunshine State, making the trek to Tallahassee for a battle with No. 24 Florida State on Sunday, March 2. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., live on ACC Network.
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.
#GoDuke
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