No. 2 Notre Dame Hosts No. 13 Duke for Women’s Basketball Clash

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 2 Notre Dame (22-2, 13-0) will host No. 13 Duke (20-5, 11-2) on Monday night, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. in a highly-anticipated matchup between two of the top three teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This game will also honor National Girls and Women in Sports Day, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.

Duke is renowned for its defense, and this season is no different, as the Blue Devils are one of only two ACC teams holding opponents under 60 percent shooting. Duke averages just 31.7 rebounds per game, while Notre Dame leads the conference with 44.0 total rebounds and a defensive rebound average of 31.6.

Notre Dame boasts a league-leading rebounding margin of 10.6, with Duke holding the second position at 7.5. Duke’s success often hinges on the performance of freshman Toby Fournier, who is the team’s leading scorer with an average of 13.5 points per game and has recorded 29 blocks this season.

In addition to Fournier, Ashlon Jackson has proven to be a significant threat from long range, averaging 2.5 3-pointers per game with a shooting percentage of 42.5 from beyond the arc.

Notre Dame enters this game riding high on a three-game win streak, with their most recent victory being an 88-57 blowout of Pitt, marking their 11th consecutive win against that opponent. Olivia Miles led the charge with 28 points, setting a single-game record of eight 3-pointers for the Irish, tying the mark originally set by Sheila McMillen in 1998.

Sonia Citron had an impressive outing as well, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds, marking her third double-double of the season. Despite a quieter performance against Pitt, Hannah Hidalgo continues to shine as a two-way player, ranking second nationally with an average of 25.2 points and stealing the ball 4.1 times per game. She achieved a season-high of seven steals in the matchup against the Panthers.

Historically, Notre Dame has a favorable record against Duke, leading the all-time series 18-4, including a 6-1 record when playing on their home turf. Monday’s matchup will not only be pivotal for both teams’ standings in the ACC but will also be available for viewing on ESPN.