You’ll recall that last season for Duke Women’s Basketball was a bit of a roller coaster early. Duke had a rocky start, then went on a brilliant winning streak, before bowing out to UCLA in the Elite Eight.
That team really didn’t have much height but compensated with tremendous defense. We’ve seen teams force 30 turnovers before, but in multiple games?
It was amazing.
This year, Duke is taller, and in Duke’s opening 76-60 win over Green Bay, the Blue Devils starters were Delaney Thomas (6-3), Emilee
Skinner (6-0), Aaliyah Crump (6-1), Jadyn Donovan (6-0) and Riley Nelson (6-2). There are other tall players on the bench, as well, including Arianna Roberson and Taylor Sofilkanich, both 6-4.
Nonetheless, Green Bay kept up in the first half, as Duke struggled in the paint without Toby Fournier, who is out with a lower leg injury. In fact, Duke didn’t score inside at all in the second quarter, and took just a 33-31 lead into halftime.
The Blue Devils ripped off a 14-3 run in the third quarter and outscored Green Bay 27-18 in that period. The defense held the Phoenix scoreless for six minutes, and in the end, Duke’s size mattered, as the Blue Devils finished with a 44-31 advantage on the board that translated in 19 second-chance points.
It wasn’t a great first half, but Duke came through and dominated in the second.
There’s no word on when Fournier will be back, but in the meantime, it’s a good chance for everyone else to make their case for more minutes.
Duke’s next game is against North Texas, and there are then five winnable games before the Blue Devils take on UConn.
- No. 4 Duke women’s basketball pulls away in second half against Green Bay for 76-60 win
- Phoenix fall in season opener at Duke, 76-60
- Roberson, Nelson lead No. 4 Duke past Green Bay 76-60 to open season
- Women’s college basketball: No. 4 Duke pulls away from Green Bay
- Duke All-American Toby Fournier sidelined with lower leg injury
- Duke 76-60 Green Bay (Nov 3, 2026) Final Score
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