Duke Women’s Hoops Heating Up as Blue Devils Head to Belmont
After a dominant 97-54 win over South Dakota State, Duke women’s basketball is starting to build some momentum-and just in time. The Blue Devils are headed to Nashville for a Saturday showdown with Belmont, riding a two-game win streak and looking to push their record back to .500. At 5-6, this is a team that’s taken some lumps early against a brutal schedule, but now they’re showing signs of a squad finding its rhythm.
Battle-Tested and Building
Duke’s six losses? All to teams currently ranked in the NET Top 75, including heavyweights like LSU (No.
6), UCLA (No. 3), and South Carolina (No. 5).
That’s not just tough sledding-it’s a gauntlet. But through it all, the Blue Devils have started to carve out an identity, led by a core that’s finding its stride on both ends of the floor.
Sophomore forward Toby Fournier is the engine of this team right now, putting up 16.3 points per game while anchoring the paint with 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. She’s the kind of two-way presence that gives Duke a foundation to build around. Delaney Thomas is helping out on the glass with 5.7 boards per game, while Jordan Wood chips in defensively with 1.5 blocks per contest.
In the backcourt, Taina Mair is doing what you want from your point guard-controlling tempo, making smart decisions, and setting the table. She’s averaging 5.2 assists to just 2.7 turnovers, and her 12.4 points per game make her a dual threat. Add in Ashlon Jackson, who’s heating up from deep, and Duke’s offense is starting to click.
Jackson Finding Her Groove
After a slow start to the season, Ashlon Jackson is finally seeing the ball go through the net-and it’s making a big difference. The senior guard has drained 13 three-pointers over her last four games, compared to 12 in her first seven. She’s shooting 35 percent from deep during that stretch, and her confidence is clearly growing.
Against South Dakota State, Jackson hit three triples to push her career total to 187-fifth in Duke history. With just 13 more, she’ll join the elite club of Blue Devils to reach 200 career threes. Her 531 attempts also rank fifth all-time, a testament to both her longevity and her green light.
Riley Nelson’s Return Making an Impact
Riley Nelson’s journey back to the court has been a long one-659 days, to be exact. After transferring from Maryland and recovering from injury, the redshirt sophomore made her Duke debut in the matchup against Baylor in Paris. Now, she’s starting to look comfortable in her new uniform.
Over the last three games, Nelson has dished out 14 assists-more than half of her season total-and is averaging 7.3 points over the last five contests. She’s had three double-digit scoring games in that stretch, including a career-high-tying 15 points against South Dakota State. Her growing role gives Duke another versatile weapon off the bench or in the starting lineup.
Scouting Belmont
Belmont enters this one also sitting at 5-6, fresh off a 77-67 win over Evansville. The Bruins are 3-2 at home this season and have faced their share of ranked opponents-five of their six losses have come against AP Top 25 teams. So while the record might not jump off the page, this is a team that’s been tested.
Offensively, Jailyn Banks leads the charge with 14.9 points per game, and she’s aggressive getting to the line-46 of her 119 points have come from the stripe. Hilary Fuller (11.8 PPG) and Tuti Jones (11.4 PPG) round out the scoring trio. Jones also leads the Bruins on the glass with 5.7 rebounds per game and is a force defensively, ranking 17th nationally with 36 steals.
Belmont averages 68.8 points per game but has struggled on the boards, getting outrebounded in seven of their 11 games. That could be a key area Duke looks to exploit, especially with Fournier and Thomas patrolling the paint.
Series History: Duke Looking to Stay Perfect
This will be the third meeting between Duke and Belmont, and the Blue Devils have taken the first two by an average of 23 points. Last year’s matchup in Cameron Indoor saw Duke roll to a 79-47 win, with Fournier putting up 25 points and six boards. The first meeting came back in the 2018 NCAA Tournament-a 72-58 Duke win in Athens, Georgia.
What’s Next
After this trip to Nashville, Duke gets a short holiday break before diving headfirst into ACC play. The Blue Devils head to Syracuse on Dec. 28 for a conference clash at the JMA Wireless Dome.
This stretch-five ACC games in 15 days-will be a defining one for Duke. But if the recent signs are any indication, this team is starting to come together at just the right time.