Duke Women’s Basketball Defeats NC State 83-65 as Toby Fournier Powers No 9 Blue Devils to 17th Straight Win

No 9 Duke extended its winning streak to 17 games Thursday night, defeating NC State 83-65 at Cameron Indoor Stadium to strengthen its hold atop the ACC standings.

The Blue Devils improved to 20-6 overall and 15-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play under head coach Kara Lawson, maintaining a one game lead over No 8 Louisville with three regular season games remaining. The result also completed a five day sweep of in state rivals after Duke defeated North Carolina earlier in the week.

Toby Fournier delivered a dominant performance with 26 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 8 for 13 from the field and 9 for 10 at the free throw line. The freshman forward continues to anchor Duke’s interior presence during this latest stretch, adding to what has become one of the program’s most consistent scoring threats during conference play.

Arianna Roberson provided a major boost off the bench with 15 points in 17 minutes, shooting 7 for 9 from the field. Ashlon Jackson contributed 14 points, while Riley Nelson scored 10, all in the first half as Duke established early control. The Blue Devils shot 49.2 percent from the field and finished with a 41-25 rebounding advantage, a decisive statistical edge that limited second chance opportunities for NC State.

NC State, now 17-9 and 10-5 in ACC play under head coach Wes Moore, was led by Khamil Pierre with 24 points and Zoe Brooks with 21. However, the Wolfpack went 0 for 6 from three point range, marking the first time in more than three years they failed to convert a three pointer in a game. That perimeter drought proved significant against a Duke defense that consistently contested passing lanes and closed out shooters.

The latest timeline shift in the game came late in the third quarter. NC State trimmed a 20 point deficit to 54-48 following Brooks’ free throws, briefly cutting momentum. Duke responded with a defensive stand that held the Wolfpack to one point over the next four and a half minutes. Back to back three pointers from Fournier and Roberson pushed the margin to 68-53, effectively regaining control entering the fourth quarter.

Historically, Duke’s 17 game run represents its longest winning streak since the 2010-11 season when the program won 20 consecutive games. The current stretch reflects improved rebounding efficiency and balanced scoring, two metrics that often correlate with deep ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament advancement.

What this means for the ACC race is significant. Duke remains unbeaten in conference play and controls its own path to a regular season title. With Louisville one game back, every remaining contest carries seeding implications for both the ACC Tournament and national bracket positioning.

NC State, meanwhile, has lost three of its last five games and will need to stabilize offensively, particularly from beyond the arc, to secure a favorable postseason outlook.

The next steps are immediate. NC State returns home Sunday to face Syracuse, while Duke travels to Clemson. With only three regular season games remaining, Duke’s margin for error remains narrow as it pursues an outright ACC championship and positions itself for a potential top seed in March.