DURHAM, N.C. — Toby Fournier contributed 20 points off the bench as No. 10 Duke secured a comfortable 74-55 victory against Clemson on Thursday night.
Fournier, who is in the running for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s rookie of the year, displayed an impressive shooting performance, going 9 for 12 from the field and grabbing four rebounds.
This marks the sixth occasion this season that the freshman has scored at least 20 points, and Duke (18-5, 9-2) has maintained an undefeated record in those games.
For Clemson (11-12, 4-8), Maddi Cluse led the scoring with 19 points, while Anya Poole added 11, marking their third straight loss, and seventh defeat in the last eight games.
Ashlon Jackson also made a significant impact for the Blue Devils, scoring 15 points alongside four assists, while Oluchi Okananwa contributed 14 points and recorded three steals.
Game Insights
Duke responded effectively after their Monday loss to No. 14 N.C. State, utilizing a strong defensive strategy that currently places them sixth in the nation for defensive ratings.
On the other side, Clemson, under Shawn Poppie’s inaugural season as head coach, struggles to consistently challenge the elite teams within the ACC. They now hold a 1-7 record against ranked opponents this season and have a disappointing 2-9 record in games classified as Quad 1 and 2.
Defining Moment
The Tigers initially held a two-point lead midway through the second quarter. However, Duke quickly turned the tide with a commanding 23-5 run that stretched into the third quarter, establishing a significant double-digit lead. Reigan Richardson notably contributed eight points during this nine-minute span.
Significant Stat
Duke managed to force Clemson into yielding a season-high of 27 turnovers, which the Blue Devils capitalized on for 35 points. Throughout this season, Duke has recorded double-digit turnovers from every opponent they have faced, leading the ACC with an average of 20.5 forced turnovers per game.
Looking Ahead
Next, Duke will host Miami on Sunday, while No. 13 North Carolina is set to travel to face Clemson.
