The highly anticipated matchup between the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. EST in Clemson, South Carolina. Duke enters the game with an impressive record of 20-6, boasting a perfect 15-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Meanwhile, Clemson stands at 18-9 with a 9-6 mark in league play.
Duke is coming off a resounding 83-65 victory against the NC State Lady Wolfpack, with standout Toby Fournier contributing a notable 26 points. The Blue Devils are currently sixth in the ACC in rebounding, averaging 37.1 boards per game, led by Fournier who averages 8.2 rebounds. Duke has been prolific on the offensive end, scoring an average of 76.0 points per game while outperforming opponents by 17.9 points.
The Clemson Tigers, who are an impressive 11-1 at home this season, are averaging 69.8 points per game and boast a potent perimeter attack, averaging 8.4 made three-pointers per game. In contrast, Duke has allowed only 4.0 made shots from beyond the arc per game, demonstrating their defensive prowess.
Key players to watch include Mia Moore for Clemson, who is shooting 45.8% from the field and averaging 13.0 points, and Rusne Augustinaite, contributing 10.3 points over the last 10 games. For the Blue Devils, Taina Mair is making an impact with averages of 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 steals, while Fournier has been on a scoring tear, averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.
In their last 10 games, the Tigers are 6-4, averaging 68.4 points and shooting 42.4% from the field, while their opponents have averaged 61.5 points. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, are an undefeated 10-0 in their last 10 outings, averaging 78.3 points with a shooting percentage of 47.4%, while limiting opponents to just 53.4 points per game.
This matchup represents the first conference encounter of the season between Duke and Clemson, promising to be a thrilling contest as both teams aim to solidify their standings within the ACC.