Duke Women’s Basketball is Rolling - And the Rest of the ACC is on Notice
The Duke Blue Devils are on a heater, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. With a 14-game win streak in hand and a perfect 12-0 record in ACC play, Duke is playing some of its best basketball in years - and doing it with a mix of grit, balance, and star power.
They’ll look to keep that momentum going Sunday when they host SMU at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. on the CW. It’s the start of a three-game homestand, and if Duke keeps playing the way it has been, Cameron could be the site of some serious statement wins.
A Historic Run Under Kara Lawson
This isn’t just a hot stretch - it’s historic. The 12-0 start in conference play is the best Duke has had under head coach Kara Lawson, and the program’s longest ACC win streak to open a season since the 2012-13 squad started 15-0 en route to a 17-1 conference finish.
The current 14-game win streak is also the longest under Lawson and the longest for the program since that same 2012-13 team opened the season with 16 straight wins.
And while Duke’s overall record sits at 17-6, it’s worth noting that all six losses came against top-tier competition - including current NET top-five teams LSU, UCLA, and South Carolina. This team has been battle-tested, and now it’s thriving.
Balanced Attack, Led by Fournier and Friends
Sophomore forward Toby Fournier has been the engine for Duke’s offense, averaging 17.6 points per game and anchoring the paint on both ends. During the win streak, she’s taken it up another level - putting up 18.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 56 percent from the field.
But Fournier isn’t doing it alone. Taina Mair is having a breakout year, contributing across the board with 11.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. Her ability to push the pace and create for others has been a big part of Duke’s offensive rhythm.
Then there’s Ashlon Jackson, who’s been a two-way force. She’s averaging 11.7 points per game, has knocked down a team-high 47 threes, and is dishing out 4.4 assists per game. But perhaps most impressively, she’s consistently taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments - and winning them.
Inside, Duke has a trio of rebounders who are doing serious work. Fournier (7.9 rpg), Arianna Roberson (6.0 rpg), and Delaney Thomas (5.7 rpg) are controlling the glass.
Thomas is also shooting a team-best 63 percent while adding 10.4 points per game. Roberson chips in 8.5 points and 1.2 blocks per contest, while Fournier leads the team in blocks with 2.2 per game.
Statement Win Over Louisville
If there were any questions about how this Duke team would fare against elite competition, Thursday night’s win at No. 6 Louisville answered them.
The Blue Devils edged the Cardinals 59-58 in a gritty road win - their first ever at the KFC Yum! Center and their first top-10 victory of the season. It was also the program’s 22nd win over a ranked opponent under Lawson, and their 11th against a top-10 team.
Duke became just the second ACC team all season to outrebound Louisville, and Riley Nelson’s clutch defensive board sealed the deal in the final seconds. Defensively, Duke was locked in, holding the Cardinals to season lows in both field goal percentage (.339) and made field goals (21). That’s a team that came in shooting nearly 46 percent - and Duke completely disrupted their rhythm.
A Top-Five Streak in the Nation
Duke’s 14-game win streak isn’t just impressive in the ACC - it’s tied for the fourth-longest active streak in Division I. And the numbers behind it are eye-popping.
Over the last 14 games, Duke is averaging 79.1 points per game, winning by an average of 24.7 points, and shooting 47 percent from the field. On the boards, they’re dominating with a +8.4 rebounding margin.
Defensively, they’re holding opponents to just 54.4 points per game, 36 percent shooting, and forcing nearly 18 turnovers a night. That’s elite on both ends.
ACC Domination
Inside the conference, Duke is the only team ranked in the top five across all major statistical categories. They lead the ACC in scoring margin (+22.8), are second in assists (18.0 per game), third in field goal percentage (.466), and top five in both three-point shooting (.352) and scoring offense (77.8).
Individually, Fournier ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring at 18.3 points per game. Mair (4.9 apg) and Jackson (4.8 apg) are fourth and fifth in assists, respectively.
Defensively, Duke is setting the tone across the board. They lead the league in scoring defense (55.1 ppg), opponent three-point percentage (.252), and turnover margin (+4.42). They’re second in opponent field goal percentage (.360), third in blocks (6.0) and opponent rebounds (33.8), and fifth in total rebounding (41.1).
Rising Stars in the Streak
Fournier’s dominance during the win streak is well documented, but she’s not the only one stepping up. Duke has five players averaging double figures during this stretch, and the ball movement has been crisp.
Three players are averaging at least 3.3 assists per game over the last 14 games, including Riley Nelson, who has doubled her season average from 1.6 to 3.3 assists per game. Jackson has also taken her playmaking to another level, dishing out 5.1 assists per game during the streak - up from 3.3 in the season’s first nine games.
What’s Next
Duke gets a week off before its next big test - a rivalry showdown with North Carolina on Feb. 15 at Cameron Indoor. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ABC.
If the Blue Devils keep playing like this, that matchup could be another chance to show the rest of the country that Duke isn’t just a hot team - they’re a legitimate contender.