Previewing Syracuse’s ACC home opener vs. Duke
Duke opened the season ranked No. 7 in the country but dropped to 3-6, its worst start since 1983-84. It’s since won three straight games but remains unranked. Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo
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Twelve games in, Syracuse’s season has exceeded expectations. With eight new players and their leading scorer gone, the Orange’s campaign was a toss-up entering their opener on Nov. 4. Nearly two months later, SU holds an 11-1 record, its best start since it made the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24.
One of Syracuse’s Atlantic Coast Conference foes, in contrast, has started its season falling short of expectations. Under sixth-year head coach Kara Lawson, Duke made three of the last five NCAA Tournaments and missed March Madness just three times in 13-year head coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s tenure.
The Blue Devils entered 2025 ranked No. 7 nationally, while Syracuse was No. 71, per HerHoopStats. The Orange have since climbed 20 spots to No. 51, and Duke, which was once a season-low No. 63, is still outside the top 25 despite winning its last three games.
Here’s everything to know about the Blue Devils (6-6, 1-0 ACC) before they take on the Orange (11-1, 1-0 ACC) in the two squads’ final contest of the 2025 calendar year:
All-time series
Duke leads 10-3.
Last time they played
Entering Sunday, the Orange have lost five straight games to the Blue Devils, last defeating them on Jan. 27, 2019. Their most recent setback came on Feb. 23 in the venerable Cameron Indoor Stadium, where SU fell 80-49, tied for its second-largest loss of the 2024-25 season.
Toby Fournier guided then-No. 11 Duke with a game-high 22 points and was one of five Blue Devils in double figures. Georgia Woolley recorded 14 points to pace Syracuse, with Sophie Burrows’ 13 not far behind. Beyond those two, the Orange’s offense sputtered, shooting a paltry 29%. SU trailed 41-19 at halftime, its lowest scoring half of the season and couldn’t recover, losing its fourth straight contest.
The Blue Devils report
Duke’s season started in the global spotlight at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France, as part of the Oui-Play event, an annual doubleheader featuring four of the NCAA’s most promising teams. Since that 58-52 loss to then-No. 16 Baylor, the Blue Devils have steadily declined. They dropped to 3-6 in the first week of December, their worst start through nine games since 1983-84.
Duke has experienced a slight revival since then, claiming its first conference win over Virginia Tech on Dec. 7 and dismantling South Dakota State and Belmont by 30-plus points. Nevertheless, the Blue Devils’ early-season slate was a gauntlet, as they’ve already faced four top-20 teams, three of which were top 5.
Fournier’s been the driving force behind Duke’s inconsistent success, leading the Blue Devils and ranking third in the ACC with 17.1 points per game. Ashlon Jackson (12.4) and Taina Mair (12.1) are also averaging over 10 points, and three more players score more than seven.
Despite Duke’s shaky start, it still ranks in the top third in Division I in points per game (71.9) and has been reliable on the glass, with its 14.2 offensive boards per game placing 71st in the country, per HerHoopStats.
How Syracuse beats Duke
The records don’t show it, but Duke might be the better team in this matchup. When Syracuse faced then-No. 6 Michigan, it lost by 26 points. The Blue Devils have had three top 5 matchups, similarly dropping them by double digits, but they’re a more battle-tested squad.
SU handling Duke and claiming its 12th win of the season all starts inside. Uche Izoje, who’s now earned three ACC Rookie of the Week honors, must continue to dominate the post. She’s coming off a 23-point, 11-rebound performance, her fourth double-double of the season.
If Izoje holds firm down low, the Blue Devils will be forced to play from outside. They’re shooting the 3 at a 31.8% clip and have knocked down just 77 triples. Creating uncomfortable situations for Duke will be Syracuse’s best chance at leaving the Dome with a win Sunday.
Stat to know: 63.7%
Another area Syracuse can exploit? The free-throw line, where Duke has just two starters shooting over 80%, and its 63.7% shooting percentage ranks 329th of 363 D-I teams.
Getting Fournier to the charity stripe can especially lead to an SU win. She’s hitting just 50% of her free throws and is coming off a 7-for-14 performance from the line against Belmont, her eighth game at 50% or lower.
Player to watch: Toby Fournier, forward, No. 35
Besides Michigan’s Olivia Olson, Syracuse hasn’t faced a more lethal scorer than Fournier. Yes, her free-throw struggles can be an issue, but she’s shooting 51% from the field and draining over six shots per game.
Duke plays a tall lineup with just Mair below 6 feet. It allows the Blue Devils’ other four starters to command the paint, where Fournier has thrived. The sophomore is collecting 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game, both of which lead Duke.
Fournier is on a tear, scoring 19 or more points in each of her last three games. Her most recent outing featured 26 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the Blue Devils’ win over the Bruins.
