Duke Women’s Basketball Returns to Cameron with Holiday Spirit and a Tough Test from South Dakota State
It’s more than just basketball at Cameron Indoor this Thursday night. Duke is bringing the holiday cheer with a halftime teddy bear toss - a fan-favorite tradition with a purpose.
Fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to toss onto the court at halftime, all of which will be collected and donated to Duke Children’s Hospital. It’s a moment that blends the heart of the holidays with the energy of game night.
Santa Claus will also be making an early stop in Durham, greeting fans starting at 6:15 p.m. in the Rubenstein Pavilion. And if you're feeling festive, there’s a letter-writing station in the Hall of Honor for those last-minute messages to the North Pole. Fans can also build their own bears - either to take home as a keepsake or to donate to the cause.
Back to Basketball: Duke Returns from the Break
After a 10-day break to wrap up finals and recharge, Duke is back in action Thursday night, hosting South Dakota State for a 7 p.m. tipoff on ACC Network. The Blue Devils are looking to build off their 70-54 win over Virginia Tech in their ACC opener - a performance that showed flashes of what this team is capable of when it clicks.
At 4-6 overall, Duke’s record doesn’t quite tell the full story. The losses have come against some of the top teams in the country - LSU, UCLA, South Carolina, Baylor, West Virginia, and South Florida - all ranked within the top 80 of the NET. This schedule hasn’t been forgiving, but it’s been a proving ground for a young Blue Devils squad still finding its rhythm.
Who’s Leading the Charge?
Sophomore forward Toby Fournier has been the engine of Duke’s offense. She’s averaging 15.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and she’s been a consistent rim protector as well, swatting away 2.5 shots per contest. Her presence in the paint has been crucial on both ends.
Ashlon Jackson is heating up from beyond the arc, averaging 12.7 points per game and finding her stroke from deep - with 10 made threes in her last three outings. Taina Mair rounds out Duke’s trio of double-digit scorers, averaging 11.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. She’s also been a defensive disruptor with a team-high 27 steals.
Delaney Thomas has quietly been one of Duke’s most efficient players, shooting at least 50 percent in every game this season while contributing 5.5 rebounds and 17 total steals. Jordan Wood has added another layer to the defense with 1.7 blocks per game.
As a team, the Blue Devils are shooting 41 percent from the floor and 32 percent from three - numbers that have been trending upward in recent weeks.
Scouting the Jackrabbits
South Dakota State comes into Cameron with a 10-2 record and riding a five-game win streak. The Jackrabbits have only dropped games to No. 11 North Carolina and Columbia and have looked sharp on the road, going 3-0 in true road games so far.
Brooklyn Meyer is the name to know. She’s averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting a blistering 62 percent from the field - good for 10th in the nation. She’s also a force defensively, ranking ninth nationally with 27 blocks.
Madison Mathiowetz is the perimeter threat. She’s hitting 48 percent of her threes, leading the Summit League and ranking 20th in the country.
As a team, the Jackrabbits are putting up 77 points per game, shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep. They’re also winning the rebounding battle by over six boards per game - a stat Duke will need to counter to stay competitive.
The Last Meeting
These two teams met last season in Brookings, where Duke pulled out a 75-71 win. Jadyn Donovan led the way with a career night, posting 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Jackson chipped in 18 points in that one as well. Thursday marks South Dakota State’s first trip to Cameron, and Duke will look to make it 2-0 all-time against the Jackrabbits.
Taina Mair: The Do-It-All Guard
Taina Mair has been as versatile as they come. She leads the team in minutes (34.1 per game), and her impact shows up all over the box score. She’s scored in double figures in six of 10 games, pulled down at least five rebounds in seven, and recorded three or more steals in six.
Her 27 steals are fourth in the ACC, and she’s led Duke in points, rebounds, assists, or steals in nearly every game this season. Mair recently became the fifth Duke player to hit both 1,000 career points and 500 career assists, and she’s closing in on 500 career rebounds - a milestone only two other Blue Devils have ever reached.
Right now, she’s the only guard in the ACC with 1,000 points and 500 assists, and she’s on pace to join an elite group of just four active Division I players with the 1,000-500-500 career trifecta.
What’s Next
Thursday’s matchup is Duke’s final home game of the calendar year and a key opportunity to gain momentum before the heart of ACC play. With a balanced scoring attack, improving shooting, and a defense that can create chaos, the Blue Devils have the tools. Now it’s about putting it all together - and doing it against a red-hot South Dakota State team that won’t make anything easy.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network. Come for the basketball, stay for the teddy bear toss, and enjoy a night where holiday spirit meets high-level hoops.