Peter Koutroumpis (@pksport)
DURHAM, NC — The fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball team stepped up and utilized a dominant third-quarter offensive surge to overpower Green Bay by a 76-60 margin at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night.
Beginning the 2026-2027 season on Coach K Court in front of an energetic crowd of 2,838, the Blue Devils (1-0) overcame an early second-quarter deficit and dominated the interior and leveraged its bench production to eventually secure the 16-point victory over the Phoenix (0-1).
The competitive non-conference contest included 10 lead changes and four ties between the defending ACC-champion Blue Devils and defending Horizon League-champion Green Bay.
Riley Nelson and Arianna Roberson each scored 15 points to lead Duke’s offense.
Roberson added a game-high four blocks for the Blue Devils.
Green Bay’s Maddy Skorupski led all scorers with 16 points and four steals.
Pivotal moments
Green Bay established its largest lead of the night at six points, 25-19, with 7:44 remaining in the second quarter following a strong opening period.
Duke reshaped the game immediately in the third period, adding to a slim 33-31 halftime lead on the Phoenix.
The Blue Devils erupted for 27 points in the third, shooting 50% (10-of-20) from the field to outscore the Phoenix by nine points in the frame, holding a 60-49 lead.
Duke eventually sealed the win up with a late 9-0 run in the fourth quarter, and extended their advantage to a game-high 16 points (76-60) with 51 seconds remaining.
Running the numbers
Duke’s 32-12 bench scoring advantage and 44-31 rebounding edge were key factors in the victory.
The Blue Devils’ positional size, rim protection, and line-up depth worked to wear down Green Bay, and created a distinct separation in the second half.
The game eventually centered on bench depth and physical board control.
Duke’s reserves outscored Green Bay’s bench 32-12 (+20 margin), spearheaded by Roberson and Autumn Fleary (9 points).
Using its rotation to its advantage, Duke managed to maintain relentless high-pressure defense, directly influencing Green Bay’s second-half field-goal percentage to drop to 22%.
Furthermore, Duke established a +13 rebounding margin (44-31) and an 8-to-1 blocking differential.
The Blue Devils translated 14 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points, while leveraging defensive stops into a 19-to-11 edge in fast-break points on the Phoenix.
Duke’s defense effectively outlasted Green Bay’s offensive efforts until the final horn, as many Phoenix shot attempts from the perimeter didn’t drop or missed altogether.
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Duke 76, Green Bay 60
Individual Standout Performers
Duke
- Riley Nelson (Starter): Co-led the Blue Devils with 15 points (4-10 FG, 1-6 3FG), exhibiting remarkable poise at the line (6-6 FT) while pulling down 3 rebounds and generating a +16 plus-minus rating in 28 minutes.
- Arianna Roberson (Reserve): Anchored Duke’s second-unit dominance, co-leading the team with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting (2-3 3FG, 1-1 FT) off the bench while controlling the paint with 5 rebounds and a game-high 4 blocked shots in 23 minutes.
- Aaliyah Crump (Starter): Orchestrated the backcourt with composure, recording 11 points (5-13 FG, 1-5 3FG), 5 rebounds, a game-high 6 assists, and a team-best +17 rating in 34 minutes.
- Delaney Thomas (Starter): Provided an interior presence, contributing 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting (2-2 FT) and gathering a team-high 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.
- Autumn Fleary (Reserve): Supplied crucial spark off the bench, scoring 9 points (3-7 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-4 FT) alongside 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 19 minutes.
- Emilee Skinner (Starter): Delivered a comprehensive stat line in 23 minutes, recording 8 points (4-9 FG, 0-2 3FG), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
- Jordan Wood (Reserve) and Bella Flemings (Reserve): Combined for 8 reserve points, with Wood registering 5 points (2-4 FG, 1-1 FT, 3 REB) and Flemings adding 3 points (1-3 3FG, 3 REB, 2 STL) to reinforce Duke’s depth.
Green Bay
- Maddy Skorupski (Starter): Spearheaded Green Bay’s attack with a game-high 16 points in 38 minutes, finishing 4-of-13 from the floor (0-1 3FG) and a flawless 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, while adding 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 1 block.
- Kristina Ouimette (Starter): Provided essential perimeter spacing, knocking down 4-of-9 three-point attempts (5-11 FG overall) to finish with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in 33 minutes.
- Meghan Schultz (Reserve): Delivered efficient post production off the bench, registering 9 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 FT) and 1 rebound in 18 minutes.
- Elisa Mevius (Starter): Impacted multiple facets of the game despite perimeter shooting struggles (1-11 FG, 1-7 3FG, 2-2 FT), grabbing a team-high 8 rebounds alongside 4 assists, 3 steals, and 5 points in 35 minutes.
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