Lady Blue Devils Bring Fight to Irish in Showdown at Cameron

Durham, N.C. — The Duke Blue Devils secured their first ranked victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, knocking off No. 18 Notre Dame 82–68 inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. The win marked Duke’s second victory over the Fighting Irish in their last three meetings, dating back to last season’s memorable ACC Tournament run.

How it happened

Senior Taina Mair and sophomore standout Toby Fournier powered the Blue Devils, scoring 23 and 20 points respectively. The duo led several crucial runs late in the second half, allowing Duke to maintain separation and close out the Irish in a 14 point win.

(photo courtesy of Duke Athletics)

Throughout the season, Duke has faced one of the toughest schedules in Division I, squaring off against LSU, UCLA, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Baylor — all ranked inside the top 50 of the NET rankings.

(photo courtesy of Duke Athletics)

Head coach Kara Lawson has consistently emphasized the importance of being battle-tested in preparation for March. Still, questions surrounded her approach after Duke went 0–5 during that demanding stretch against elite competition.

Five is Company

Sunday’s matchup against Notre Dame featured balanced scoring, as all five Duke starters reached double figures. Forward Delaney Thomas added her second double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

(photo courtesy of Duke Athletics)

Going Back to Cali?

The Blue Devils appear to be hitting their stride, winning six straight games and opening ACC play 4–0. Duke now heads west for road matchups against Stanford and California next week.

Stay tuned for more coverage following the Lady Blue Devils’ West Coast trip.