Duke Women's Basketball Dominates Baylor in Sweet 16 Rematch

Blue Devils display confidence and composure in commanding victory, advance to face LSU

Mar. 23, 2026 at 11:33am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Duke women's basketball team avenged an early-season loss to Baylor with a dominant performance, winning 69-52 to advance to the Sweet 16. Led by Delaney Thomas' 17 points on near-perfect shooting, the Blue Devils showcased their growth and tournament readiness, leading for nearly the entire game and outperforming the Bears in key statistical categories.

Why it matters

This victory represents a significant step forward for the Duke program, as they were able to avenge an earlier loss to Baylor and prove their ability to compete with top teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils' strong defensive effort and balanced offensive attack suggest they are peaking at the right time and will be a formidable opponent as they advance to face LSU in the Sweet 16.

The details

Duke jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and never looked back, leading for 38 minutes and 50 seconds. The Blue Devils' relentless defense and efficient offense proved too much for Baylor, as Duke outrebounded the Bears 43-36 and forced 23 turnovers. Delaney Thomas led the way with 17 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, while senior Taina Mair added a game-high 4 steals. Redshirt freshman Arianna Roberson also contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

  • Duke and Baylor previously met in Paris earlier this season, with Baylor winning 58-52.
  • The Blue Devils' victory over Baylor came in the Round of 32 of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

The players

Delaney Thomas

A standout player for Duke, Thomas led the team with 17 points on near-perfect shooting, showcasing her offensive prowess.

Taina Mair

The senior guard led Duke's defensive effort, recording a game-high 4 steals and providing relentless pressure on Baylor's ball handlers.

Arianna Roberson

The redshirt freshman forward recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, using her 6-foot-4 frame to dominate the paint.

Kara Lawson

The Duke head coach praised her team's defensive effort and attention to detail, which helped limit Baylor's scoring opportunities.

Baylor

The Texas-based team that was defeated by Duke in the Sweet 16 rematch, having previously bested the Blue Devils earlier in the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“So proud of all the players. The first half, two single-digit quarters for them to start the game, put us in a commanding position.”

— Kara Lawson, Head Coach, Duke Women's Basketball

“I think we were super raw back in November. We were a brand-new team coming together. So throughout the course of the season, we just continue to get better and better on the defensive end. And I think today kind of showed it.”

— Taina Mair, Senior Guard, Duke Women's Basketball

“Everybody's good in March. So you got to bring your best competitive spirit.”

— Delaney Thomas

What’s next

The Blue Devils will face No. 2 seed LSU in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Sacramento, seeking to continue their tournament run and advance to the Elite Eight.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant victory over Baylor demonstrates the team's growth and readiness for the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils' stifling defense, balanced scoring, and composure under pressure suggest they have the potential to make a deep run and potentially challenge for a national championship.