No. 20 Duke women rout Wake Forest for 13th straight win

Blue Devils remain undefeated in ACC play under coach Kara Lawson

Feb. 1, 2026 at 2:47pm

The No. 20 Duke women's basketball team cruised to an 80-44 victory over Wake Forest on Sunday, extending their winning streak to 13 games. Riley Nelson scored 16 points, while Toby Fournier and Arianna Roberson each recorded double-doubles for the Blue Devils, who led by as many as 42 points. Wake Forest struggled mightily, committing 31 turnovers and shooting just 30% from the field for the game.

Why it matters

Duke's dominant performance keeps them undefeated in ACC play this season, continuing their strong start under sixth-year head coach Kara Lawson. The Blue Devils are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after reaching the Sweet 16 last year.

The details

Duke jumped out to a 42-10 halftime lead, fueled by a 21-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Blue Devils opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run to extend their lead to 52-10 before Wake Forest was able to cut the deficit. For the game, Duke shot 45% from the field while holding Wake Forest to just 30% shooting.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • Duke's 11-0 start in ACC play is their best under coach Kara Lawson, who is in her sixth season.

The players

Riley Nelson

A Duke player who scored 16 points in the win.

Toby Fournier

A Duke player who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Arianna Roberson

A Duke player who also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Milan Brown

A 5-foot-8 freshman for Wake Forest who had 13 points and 17 rebounds, her third double-double of the season.

Caitlyn Jones

A Wake Forest player who scored 10 points in the loss.

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What’s next

Duke will face a first-place showdown at No. 7 Louisville on Thursday, with both teams entering the game with 10-0 conference records. Wake Forest will travel to SMU on Thursday.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant win over Wake Forest keeps them undefeated in ACC play and establishes them as a top contender in the conference. The Blue Devils' stifling defense and balanced scoring attack have them poised for a deep NCAA Tournament run under coach Kara Lawson.