Will the Miami Hurricanes Claim Victory Over the Blue Devils Again?
The Duke Blue Devils are riding a strong wave of momentum, currently on a winning streak after their recent victory over the Clemson Tigers. This win improved their conference record to 9-2 and their overall standing to 18-5, securing them the No. 4 spot in the rankings. On the other hand, the Miami Hurricanes are struggling. They suffered a loss to Georgia Tech in their previous game and are on a losing streak. Miami currently holds the No. 13 spot in the rankings with a 3-8 conference record and 13-9 overall in the ACC. Earlier this season, Duke and Miami faced off, with Duke winning 64-58. Despite Miami leading by double digits for most of the second half, Duke mounted a comeback to secure the victory. Miami’s defense was strong throughout the game, limiting Duke’s scoring opportunities. Shayeann Day-Wilson was a standout for Miami, making five of nine three-pointers and contributing 17 points. Ja’Leah Williams also played a key role, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds. For Duke, Oluchi Okananwa led with 13 points, while Jadyn Donovan added 10 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
The Miami Hurricanes will look to pull off an upset against Duke, relying on their key players to step up. Haley Cavinder, the team leader, contributes 18.8 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game. Cameron Williams provides strong support on the boards, averaging seven rebounds, while Jasmyne Roberts adds defensive intensity with one and a half steals per game. Natalija Marshall leads in rim protection, averaging one block per game. If these players perform at their best and work together, Miami could position itself for a much-needed victory. However, Duke remains the favorite. The Blue Devils have won four of their last five games, while Miami has struggled, winning only two of their last five. The Blue Devils’ top scorer, Toby Fournier, will come out on the court ready to play. She is the exact player any team will have to watch out for because she always takes the initiative at any opportunity she has to score as well as watching the floor and making great passes.
In the game the Blue Devils played against Clemson, Okananwa was starting to heat up and work the ball. In this game she was consistent, and in the previous matches they played, she didn't care how many people were on her; she came out physically swinging the ball. Clemson was limiting the Blue Devils' scoring, but they were able to pick up the pace, so matching up against the Miami Hurricanes, they will have to get the same momentum and lower their scoring to keep putting points on the board. Miami was able to go against Georgia Tech head-to-head but fell short, not taking control of their offense and letting Georgia Tech get shots off of them while on defense. Roberts was able to get her hands on the steal to start the Hurricanes off on a good note, but she will need to carry that momentum against Duke. The tip-off is set for February 9th at 2:00 PM.
