Duke Women’s Basketball Stays Hot, Pulls Away Late to Beat Miami for 12th Straight Win
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Duke Blue Devils are putting together a serious run, and Thursday night in Coral Gables, they showed exactly why they’re one of the hottest teams in the ACC. Behind a double-double from their sophomore standout - 22 points and 11 boards - No. 20 Duke pulled away late to secure a 74-58 road win over Miami, extending their win streak to 12 games and improving to 15-6 overall, a perfect 10-0 in conference play.
This one was a grind for three quarters. Duke led by just five heading into the final frame, but when it mattered most, the Blue Devils locked in. They outscored Miami 19-8 in the fourth, clamping down on defense and executing with poise down the stretch.
Taina Mair was once again in the middle of it all. The dynamic guard continued her strong play, finishing with 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Jordan Wood chipped in 12 points of her own, giving Duke a well-rounded scoring effort on the night.
Fast Start, Steady Control
Duke wasted no time setting the tone. Riley Nelson got the Blue Devils on the board with their first four points, and a quick 7-0 burst gave them an early 7-2 edge. Miami answered with a three to close the gap, but Duke responded with another mini-run, pushing the lead to 11-5.
Out of the first media timeout, Mair buried a three from the left wing, and Wood added a free throw to stretch the lead. Duke’s defense did its part, and the offense kept humming. By the end of the first quarter, the Blue Devils were up 21-9, thanks in part to a six-point surge from Fournier to close the frame.
The second quarter saw more of the same. Fournier stayed aggressive, getting to the line, finishing at the rim, and even stepping out to knock down a trailing three. Duke maintained its double-digit cushion, leading 29-17 midway through the second.
Then Mair took over. She rattled off seven straight points, Wood added a bucket, and suddenly Duke was up 39-23 heading into halftime - a commanding position on the road.
Miami Pushes Back, Duke Responds
Duke came out of the break firing, scoring five quick points to stretch the lead to 44-25 - their largest of the night. But Miami wasn’t done. The Hurricanes responded with a 7-0 run, forcing Duke into a timeout and flipping the momentum.
Miami closed the third quarter on a 9-2 spurt, cutting what had once been a 19-point deficit down to just five. Ra Shaya Kyle was a force for the Hurricanes during that stretch, scoring 11 of her 21 points in the third and helping Miami shoot a blistering 69% in the period. After three quarters, it was suddenly a ballgame again.
Fourth-Quarter Dominance
But when the pressure ramped up, Duke didn’t flinch. Delaney Thomas stepped up with three key buckets early in the fourth, pushing the lead back to nine. From there, the Blue Devils’ defense took over.
Duke held Miami scoreless for nearly eight straight minutes - a 7:41 drought that effectively sealed the game. On the other end, Wood knocked down a clutch three, Mair hit a smooth mid-range jumper, and the lead ballooned back to 66-52.
Miami managed just six points in the final quarter, and only two in the last 90 seconds. The Blue Devils closed it out with composure, walking out of Coral Gables with a 74-58 win that felt like a statement.
Kyle led the Hurricanes with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Gal Raviv added 16 for Miami, but the rest of the team struggled to find rhythm late.
What’s Next
With this win, Duke stays perfect in ACC play and continues to build momentum heading into the back half of the season. The Blue Devils are defending, sharing the ball, and showing the kind of late-game execution that separates contenders from the rest of the pack.
The streak is alive at 12 - and with the way this team is playing, there’s no telling how far it can go.