Duke Women’s Basketball Riding High into Georgia Tech Matchup
The Blue Devils are rolling, and they’re not looking to slow down anytime soon.
On Sunday, Duke will look to extend its winning streak to 10 games when it hosts Georgia Tech in a key ACC showdown. The Blue Devils are 12-6 overall and a perfect 7-0 in conference play, with their last loss coming all the way back on December 4 against LSU.
That 7-0 start in ACC action? It’s the best yet under head coach Kara Lawson and the program’s strongest opening to league play since the 2012-13 season, when Duke stormed to a 15-0 start and finished 17-1 in the ACC.
This isn’t a team padding its record against soft competition either. Duke’s six losses came against some of the nation’s top programs-current NET No.
5 LSU, No. 2 UCLA, No.
3 South Carolina, No. 21 West Virginia, No.
27 Baylor, and No. 69 South Florida.
That’s a gauntlet by any standard, and it’s only sharpened this group.
Balanced, Efficient, and Dangerous
Sophomore forward Toby Fournier has emerged as the offensive engine for Duke, pouring in 17.7 points per game while anchoring the paint on both ends. She’s not just scoring-she’s protecting the rim with authority, averaging 2.3 blocks per game, and pulling down 7.2 rebounds a night.
Taina Mair is doing a little bit of everything-literally. The junior guard is averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game, and she’s been a stat-sheet stuffer all season. From scoring to playmaking to crashing the glass, Mair has been the glue holding everything together.
Ashlon Jackson is giving Duke a consistent perimeter threat, averaging 12.5 points per game and leading the team with 36 made threes. Delaney Thomas brings a hyper-efficient inside presence, scoring 10.4 points per game on a scorching 63% shooting clip. And don’t overlook freshman Arianna Roberson, who’s adding 8.1 points, 5.7 boards, and over a block per game.
This is a team with depth, versatility, and a growing sense of confidence.
Georgia Tech Looking to Play Spoiler
The Yellow Jackets come in at 8-10 overall and 3-3 in ACC play, fresh off a gritty 58-55 win over Clemson. They’ve had a few extra days to prepare, which could help as they head into Cameron Indoor.
Talayah Walker leads Georgia Tech with 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Catherine Alben adds 10.7 points. Erica Moon is the facilitator, dishing out nearly four assists per game, and the Jackets bring defensive energy with Walker and Brianna Turnage combining for 57 steals on the year.
But history is not on Georgia Tech’s side. Duke holds a commanding 66-11 edge in the all-time series and is 31-4 at home against the Yellow Jackets.
The last time Tech got the better of Duke was in 2022, a 59-46 win. Since then, the Blue Devils have taken control of the matchup once again.
Inside the ACC Race
As things stand, Duke and Louisville are the last two unbeaten teams in ACC play, both sitting at 7-0. The two programs are on a collision course, set to meet on February 5 in what could be a pivotal game for conference supremacy.
Duke’s offensive numbers back up the eye test. The Blue Devils lead the ACC in assists per game (18.14) and are tied for second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.30). They’re also top five in scoring offense (76.1), field goal percentage (.452), and three-point shooting (.336).
Individually, Fournier ranks third in the conference in scoring at 18.9 points per game. Jackson (4.9) and Mair (4.6) are both among the league’s top assist leaders, making Duke one of just three ACC teams (alongside Cal and Georgia Tech) with two players averaging 4.0+ assists in league play.
On the defensive end, Duke is just as strong. They lead the ACC in scoring defense (59.1 points allowed per game), rank third in both assist-to-turnover ratio and blocks (5.57), and sit fourth in opponent field goal percentage (.386) and steals (9.29). That’s a complete profile-this team isn’t just winning, it’s doing so on both ends of the floor.
Analytics Back It Up
Dig into the advanced metrics, and the story gets even better for Duke. According to HerHoopStats, the Blue Devils rank eighth nationally in defensive rating at 72.6. On the offensive side, they come in at 23rd with a 111.5 rating, averaging 100.6 points per 100 possessions.
One stat that really jumps out: Duke’s opponents have a combined win percentage of 67.5%, the highest in the country. That means this team isn’t just beating who’s in front of them-they’re doing it against high-level competition.
HerHoopStats’ simple RPI has Duke sitting at No. 10.
Delaney Thomas is one of the most efficient players on the roster, averaging 1.15 points per possession with an overall efficiency rating of 62.9. Fournier isn’t far behind at 0.98 PPP and a 54.7 efficiency rating, underscoring just how effective Duke’s frontcourt has been.
Fournier: No Sophomore Slump Here
If there were any questions about how Fournier would follow up her freshman campaign, she’s answered them with authority. She leads Duke in both scoring and rebounding and ranks as the top-scoring forward in the ACC. Across Power 5 programs, she’s eighth in scoring average among forwards-a testament to her consistency and impact.
She’s become a matchup nightmare-too strong for guards, too quick for bigs-and her ability to alter shots at the rim gives Duke a defensive anchor few teams can match.
Mair’s All-Around Brilliance
Taina Mair has been everywhere for Duke this season. She’s hit double-digit points in half of the team’s games, pulled down five or more rebounds in 11 contests, and recorded at least three steals eight times. She’s led the team in points five times, rebounds four times, assists in 10 games, and steals in seven.
With 19 points and three assists at South Florida, Mair joined elite company-just the fifth player in Duke history to tally 1,000 career points and 500 career assists. She’s also the sixth Blue Devil to hit 500 assists, and with 12 more rebounds, she’ll become just the third Duke player ever to reach 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds.
Right now, she’s the only guard in the ACC with 1,000 points and 500 assists. Nationally, she ranks sixth among active players with 566 assists and is on pace to become just the sixth active Division I player to reach that rare 1,000-500-500 milestone.
What’s Next
The Blue Devils have their eyes on the present, but the bigger picture is starting to take shape. With a top-10 RPI, a perfect ACC record, and a roster clicking on both ends, Duke is setting itself up for a serious run. Georgia Tech is next on the schedule, but February 5 against Louisville looms large.
One game at a time, though-and right now, Duke is playing some of the best basketball in the country.