Duke Returns to Cameron for Whiteout Showdown vs. No. 5 LSU
Cameron Indoor Stadium is set to host a marquee matchup Thursday night as Duke welcomes No. 5 LSU for a nationally televised showdown on ESPN. Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m., and the Blue Devils are calling for a whiteout - fans are encouraged to bring the energy and wear white as Duke looks to bounce back from a tough stretch.
This one won’t be easy. LSU rolls into Durham undefeated at 8-0, leading the nation in scoring and looking every bit the powerhouse they were projected to be. For Duke, it’s another test in a brutal early-season schedule - their third straight game against a top-five opponent.
A Gritty Stretch for the Blue Devils
Duke enters the game 3-5 overall after dropping back-to-back games to No. 2 South Carolina and No.
3 UCLA at the Players Era Women’s Championship in Las Vegas. Despite the losses, there were signs of life.
Against South Carolina, Duke put up 66 points and pulled down 35 rebounds - both season highs for a Gamecocks opponent. Against UCLA, the Blue Devils took care of the ball, committing a season-low 11 turnovers.
But it was the Bruins’ red-hot shooting from deep - 59 percent from beyond the arc - that proved too much to overcome.
Now, back at home, Duke gets a shot at redemption - and a chance to make a national statement.
Fournier Leading the Charge
Sophomore forward Toby Fournier has been the engine for Duke so far this season. She’s averaging a team-high 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and she’s already posted two double-doubles.
Fournier’s been remarkably consistent, scoring in double figures in seven of eight games and shooting at least 50 percent in five of them. She’s also been a presence on the defensive end, averaging 2.5 blocks per contest.
Joining her in double-digit scoring are Ashlon Jackson (12.4 PPG) and Taina Mair (10.4 PPG), giving Duke a solid trio of offensive threats. Mair, in particular, has been the team’s do-it-all guard - dishing 5.5 assists per game while keeping turnovers in check at just 2.1 per outing.
Mair’s All-Around Impact
Mair’s value goes well beyond the box score. She leads the team in minutes (33.2 per game) and has been a steady contributor in just about every category.
She’s scored in double figures four times, grabbed five or more rebounds in five games, and notched three or more steals in four contests. Her 18 steals rank eighth in the ACC.
Earlier this season at South Florida, Mair nearly posted her first Duke double-double with 19 points and nine boards. That performance also marked a milestone - she became the fifth player in Duke history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 assists. She’s also within striking distance of becoming just the third Blue Devil ever to tally 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds in a career.
LSU Brings the Firepower
If Duke wants to pull off the upset, they’ll need to slow down the most explosive offense in the country. LSU is averaging an eye-popping 112 points per game and has scored over 100 in all eight contests this season.
The Tigers are shooting 55.5 percent from the field and grabbing 52.5 rebounds per game - both tops in Division I. Their average margin of victory?
A staggering 59.8 points.
This will be just LSU’s second game against a Power 4 opponent this year, but they made a statement in their first - a 112-35 dismantling of Washington State at the Paradise Jam.
Flau’jae Johnson leads the Tigers with 17 points per game, with MiLaysia Fulwiley (16.1 PPG) and ZaKiyah Johnson (13.5 PPG on 65 percent shooting) adding plenty of support. Kate Koval anchors the glass with 8.5 rebounds per game.
History on the Line
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Duke and LSU, and just the second in the regular season. Duke holds a 3-2 edge in the series, including a win in their last meeting - a 2010 NCAA Tournament clash.
But the Blue Devils haven’t beaten a top-five opponent since December 4, 2016 - exactly nine years to the day of Thursday’s matchup. That win also came inside Cameron, a 74-63 victory over then-No. 3 South Carolina.
Under head coach Kara Lawson, Duke is still searching for its first win against a top-five team, entering this game 0-13 in such matchups since she took over in 2020. Against top-25 opponents overall, Duke is 20-31 during Lawson’s tenure, including a strong 10-4 record against teams ranked 6-10. At home, the Blue Devils are 8-8 in top-25 games under Lawson.
NET Rankings & Strength of Schedule
The first NET rankings of the season dropped this week, and the contrast between these two teams is stark. LSU sits at No. 1, while Duke comes in at No.
- But don’t let that number fool you - Duke’s strength of schedule is ranked seventh nationally, compared to LSU’s 330th.
The Blue Devils have already faced Nos. 1, 4, 6, 20, and 28, with No. 13 North Carolina still to come - twice.
In total, Duke is scheduled to play 12 teams currently ranked in the NET top 56. So while the record may not sparkle, the experience this team is gaining could pay dividends once ACC play begins.
What’s Next
After this heavyweight bout, Duke shifts its focus to conference play. The Blue Devils will open their ACC slate on Dec. 7 with a road trip to Virginia Tech before taking a break for final exams.
But first - a chance to shake up the national landscape, in front of a home crowd, under the bright lights of ESPN. It’s Duke vs.
LSU. Whiteout night in Cameron.
Let’s see what the Blue Devils have in store.