The Enigmatic Legacy of Duke University: A Journey Through Its Halls

DURHAM, N.C. – Reigan Richardson achieved her 1,000th career point, wrapping up the day with 13 points to guide the 14th-ranked Blue Devils to a decisive, 69-31, triumph over Pittsburgh during ACC women’s basketball competition Sunday afternoon.

In her third year at Duke, Richardson has gathered 832 points as a Blue Devil and 1,002 overall in her career. She also contributed three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 23 minutes of play. Delaney Thomas added 10 points and six rebounds, concluding the game with a flawless 5-for-5 shooting performance.

On the defensive side, Duke (12-3, 3-0) restricted Pittsburgh (8-8, 0-3) to single-digit scores in the first three quarters while forcing the Panthers into 29 turnovers.

HOW IT OCCURRED

• After a back-and-forth beginning to the game, Duke finished with an 11-0 surge, holding a 20-9 lead after the first 10 minutes. Senior Reigan Richardson led six Blue Devils with eight points in the opening quarter.
• Defense was pivotal as Duke confined Pittsburgh to just six points and 18% shooting (2-of-11) from the floor in the second quarter, denying Pitt a field goal for the final three minutes of the period. The Blue Devils also recorded five steals and two blocks while forcing 10 turnovers from the Panthers.
• The Blue Devils demonstrated offensive distribution during this period with seven different scorers. By halftime, Duke’s lead grew to 38-15.
• A 9-0 spurt to kick off the third quarter extended the Duke lead to 32. This run included baskets from Jadyn Donovan, Taina Mair, Thomas, and Richardson, lifting Duke’s lead to 47-15, with 6:28 remaining.
• Richardson’s bucket at the 8:53 mark of the quarter was particularly notable as the senior converted a pull-up jumper to achieve her 1,000th career point.
• Thomas also made her mark in this quarter, scoring six of her 10 points while shooting 100% from the field (3-of-3). Duke concluded the third quarter with a 53-21 advantage.
• Duke maintained its composure in the fourth, increasing its lead to 39 points with six minutes to go. Jordan Wood capped the period with seven points.
• Defensively, the Blue Devils limited Pitt to 24-percent shooting, including 13 percent from beyond the arc. Duke scored 29 points off turnovers and outrebounded the Panthers 41-29.

 
NOTES:

• Duke’s defense excelled on Sunday, restricting Pittsburgh to 31 points on 24.4% shooting – both season lows for the Panthers, while also creating 29 turnovers. The Blue Devils amassed 14 steals and matched a season-high with eight blocks.
• Duke held Pittsburgh significantly below its season averages in scoring, shooting percentage, and rebounding.
• The Blue Devils forced Pitt to single-digit scores in each of the first three quarters. Throughout the season, Duke has held its opponents under single digits in 13 quarters.
• Pitt’s first-half point total (15) and field goal percentage (22.2%) represented season lows against a Duke opponent. The Panthers’ six points in the third quarter also tied for the lowest by a Blue Devil opponent this season.
• On the offensive front, Duke recorded 18 assists on 26 field goals while shooting 45.6% overall. Duke made eight three-pointers and converted nine free throws.
• The sophomore group strongly impacted the game, with Jadyn Donovan, Oluchi Okananwa, Delaney Thomas, and Jordan Wood combining for 34 points, 25 rebounds, six steals, and six blocks.
• Duke concluded the game with a plus-13 margin (41-28) on the boards, boasting a 15-9 advantage on the offensive end. The Blue Devils excelled in virtually all five statistical categories – from bench points (24-1) to points off turnovers (29-7), in the paint (24-16), fast break (13-0), and second chance scoring (16-6).
• With her pull-up jumper from the key at the 8:53 mark of the third quarter, Reigan Richardson surpassed the 1,000 career point milestone. 
• Richardson concluded the game with 13 points, marking her ninth double-digit performance this season, bringing her collegiate total to 1,002. She also contributed three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Delaney Thomas reached double figures for the seventh time this season and fifth in her last seven contests. She registered 10 points with a perfect shooting percentage (5-of-5) while also pulling down six rebounds. Thomas is shooting an impressive 28-of-33 (85%) over her last six games.
• Jordan Wood had a significant impact across several statistics, posting an impressive all-round game with nine points, seven rebounds, a career-high four blocks, two assists, and two steals.
• Jadyn Donovan and Taina Mair made substantial contributions with eight points each. Donovan added six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block to her stats, while Mair recorded three assists and two steals.
• Oluchi Okananwa contributed seven points, six rebounds, and two steals.

 
UP NEXT:
Duke begins a two-game road stretch with a midweek contest against Tobacco Road rival, North Carolina, on Thursday, Jan. 9 in Chapel Hill. The game is set to start at 7 p.m., live on the ACC Network.

To stay updated with Duke women’s basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and subscribe to the YouTube channel by searching “DukeWBB.”

50 Seasons of Duke Women’s Basketball

The 2024-25 season commemorates the 50th anniversary of Duke women’s basketball, a program steeped in tradition, excellence, and achievement. From its foundational years to national prominence, the Blue Devils have become a formidable force in both athletics and academics. Join us in celebrating five decades of sisterhood, championships, and iconic moments as we prepare for the next 50 years. For further details, please visit goduke.com/WBB50.      

 

#GoDuke