The Duke women’s basketball team won eight of its first nine games to start the 2024-25 season, but the Blue Devils couldn’t get the better of No. 4 South Carolina on the road on Thursday.
Despite Duke’s recent form, the Gamecocks ripped off a 17-2 run in the middle of the first quarter to end the game as soon as it began. The Blue Devils trailed by 16 points after 10 minutes, and despite winning the final three quarters 58-53, their fate was sealed for an 81-70 loss.
Guard Taina Mair and forward Delaney Thomas put the team on their backs for different stretches, each putting 14 points on the board for the road team, and reigning ACC Sixth Person of the Year Oluchi Okananwa ripped off 12 more from the bench. But South Carolina made more than 57% of its looks for the game, and the reigning national champions got 21 points and 11 boards from forward Chloe Kitts.
Check out the best photos from Thursday’s game here.