Duke Women’s Basketball Dominates SMU
In a commanding performance, the No. 17 Duke women’s basketball team secured a decisive 95-36 victory over SMU, marking their 15th consecutive win. Freshman center Arianna Roberson shone brightly, delivering an impressive outing with personal bests of 22 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. Veteran guard Toby Fournier contributed to the onslaught with 26 points, while Delaney Thomas added a double-double of her own, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Ashlon Jackson rounded out the stellar performances with an 11-point and 10-assist double-double as well.
Record-Breaking Conference Performance
Duke, under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Kara Lawson, has now won 13 straight games in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), establishing a new record for the best conference start in Lawson’s tenure. The Blue Devils have risen to a season record of 18 wins and 6 losses, boasting an impressive 13-0 mark in conference play.
Game Highlights
The Blue Devils quickly established control of the game, jumping out to a 24-6 lead by the end of the first quarter, fueled by a 19-3 scoring spurt after an early 5-2 advantage. In the second quarter, Roberson and Fournier each netted eight points, helping to propel Duke to a dominant 46-16 lead at halftime. The Blue Devils displayed exceptional shooting, connecting on 56% of their shots in the first half, while holding SMU to just 22%.
Roberson continued her impressive play into the third quarter, contributing another 10 points as Duke’s lead ballooned to 50 after a late 3-pointer from Riley Nelson. Thomas delivered a scoring flurry of seven points during a nine-point run that left the score at 95-35 in favor of the Blue Devils as time wound down. SMU’s Grace Hall managed to score a free throw to provide the final point of the game. The Mustangs, now with a record of 8-16 and 1-11 in conference play, were led by Hall, who secured nine points.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, SMU will face No. 25 North Carolina on Thursday, while Duke prepares to host their next game against North Carolina on Sunday, as they look to extend their impressive home game streak.
