Duke to Host No. 1 South Carolina in Jimmy V Women’s Classic

Sunday, December 3

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

South Carolina

Tickets

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke to Host No. 1 South Carolina in Jimmy V Women’s Classic

12/2/2023 12:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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THE OPENING TIP

The Blue Devils unwrap the month of December this weekend, welcoming No. 1 South Carolina to Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday. The game is part of the 2023 Jimmy V Women's Classic, which will feature the event's first triple header.
Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli will call the game live on ABC, with action set to tip off at 1 p.m. ET.
Duke will be competing in the Jimmy V Women's Classic for the fifth time overall and the first since the 2013-14 season. The Blue Devils are 4-1 all-time in the event, with the lone loss coming to UConn, 83-61, back on Dec. 17, 2013.
The Blue Devils are also hosting a teddy bear toss during halftime of Sunday's game. Fans are encouraged to come "bearing" gifts for children on gameday. All teddy bears thrown will be collected and donated to patients at the Duke Children's Hospital during the holiday season.
Duke gets to enjoy the comforts of home this month as the team plays five of six games in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The lone road game takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, when Duke opens ACC play at Clemson at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils are seeking their third win against South Carolina all-time as the Gamecocks hold a 6-2 ledger through the eight previous meetings.
In the most recent meeting between the schools -- Dec. 15, 2021 -- the No. 15 Blue Devils gave a valiant effort holding No. 1 South Carolina to its lowest point total (55) and shooting output (35.1 percent) to that point of the season. The Blue Devils were unable to overcome an early first-quarter deficit, however, dropping a close, 55-46 decision.
As a team, Duke currently ranks No. 3 nationally in blocks per game with an average of 7.6 rejections.
The Blue Devils have seen a balanced attack on the offensive end thus far as the team features four players averaging double figures.
Ashlon Jackson and Reigan Richardson lead the offensive charge for the Blue Devils, with Jackson (13.0) narrowly edging out Richardson (12.9) for the team lead. They are joined by Taina Mair (11.5) and Oluchi Okananwa (10.5).
Duke is coming off a seven-point overtime win at Georgia on Thursday in the ACC/SEC Challenge, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 17-10 in the extra session to claim the 72-65 dub.
Jackson led the efforts with 18 points, Richardson dropped in 15, Jadyn Donovan netted a career-high 13 and Okananwa added 12 off the bench.

DUKE-SOUTH CAROLINA MATCHUP PART OF 2023 JIMMY V WOMEN'S CLASSIC

Duke's game against No. 1 South Carolina this weekend was chosen as one of three matchups for the 2023 Jimmy V Women's Classic. The game is set to be a part of the event's first tripleheader, which features six of the nation's elite programs competing on Sunday.
A pair of games will broadcast live on ABC, beginning with the Blue Devils' contest against the Gamecocks (1 p.m.) followed by UConn at Texas (3 p.m.). The third matchup – Ohio State at Tennessee – gets going at 5 p.m., over on ESPN. All games will be at campus sites.
Duke, which makes its first appearance in the Jimmy V Women's Classic since the 2013-14 season, has played in the event five times previously and holds a 4-1 record. The Blue Devils last competed in the Jimmy V Women's Classic back on Dec. 17, 2013 – an 83-61 setback to UConn.
The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano – who was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
The women's event debuted in 2002, while the men's classic began in 1995. Both events are part of ESPN's V Week initiative, which utilizes platforms to talk to sports fans about the importance of cancer research.
To date, ESPN has helped raise nearly $200 million dollars for the V Foundation. In 2022, V Week helped raise a record breaking $14.4 million dollars which was a 32 percent increase over 2020 fundraising.

SUPERLATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Duke's reserves are providing a spark for the Blue Devils, boasting an average of 25.1 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored more bench points than their foes in all seven games, totaling 176 points while opponents have put up just 81.
In four of the games, the Blue Devils have finished with a substantial margin in bench production -- 34-15 (Richmond), 24-6 (Coastal Carolina), 28-5 (at Stanford) and 33-11 (NC Central).
Duke has received strong production on the offensive glass this season producing 15.4 offensive rebounds per game.
The Blue Devils have parlayed those extra possessions into 96 second-chance points, more than 30 points better than their opponents (65). Duke has held the advantage in five games, including sizeable margins against Richmond (18-5) and Coastal Carolina (20-2).
On the fastbreak, the Blue Devils hold an 87-31 edge and have limited each opponent to fewer than eight points in transition.
Duke has also commanded the inside early in the season, outscoring its foes 250-176.
The Blue Devils average over 10 more points in the paint per game than their opponents, 35.7 to 25.1, and have finished with double-digit margins in five contests.

BLUE DEVILS HOSTING TEDDY BEAR TOSS DEC. 3

Duke women's basketball will host a teddy bear toss during halftime of this weekend's Jimmy V Women's Classic game against top-ranked South Carolina. Fans are encouraged to come "bearing" gifts for children on gameday.
Bring your new teddy bears (or other stuffed animals) of any size to throw onto the court during halftime.
All teddy bears thrown will be collected and donated to patients at the Duke Children's Hospital during the holiday season.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE GAMECOCKS

South Carolina (6-0), ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches poll, enters the weekend fresh off a win over No. 24 North Carolina, 65-58, in the ACC/SEC Challenge Thursday night.
The Gamecocks feature a lethal attack on both sides of the ball, checking in at No. 4 in scoring offense (94.5) and tenth in scoring defense (50.3) nationally, with the team also ranking among the top-10 nationally in nine other categories.
Five players average double figures for South Carolina with Kamilla Cardoso leading the way in points (15.0) and rebounds (11.8). Te-Hina PaoPao and MiLaysia Fulwiley are next in line with 13.2 and 12.5 points, respectively, while Ashlyn Watkins and Raven Johnson both averaging 10.7 points to round out the quintet.
Johnson is also the team's leading distributor dishing out 7.5 dimes a game.
Head coach Dawn Staley is in her 16th season at South Carolina and 24th season of coaching overall. During her time in Columbia, Staley has compiled a 408-106 record.

SERIES HISTORY

Duke and South Carolina have played eight times previously, the Gamecocks holding a 6-2 lead in the all-time series.
At least one of the teams has been ranked in the eight matchups with both squads slotted among the top 25 in five of them.
The last Duke win came on Dec. 3, 2016, when the Blue Devils posted an 11-point victory over the third-ranked Gamecocks, 74-63
In the most recent meeting between the schools -- Dec. 15, 2021 -- the No. 15 Blue Devils gave a valiant effort holding No. 1 South Carolina to its lowest point total (55) and shooting output (35.1 percent) up to that point of the season, but were unable to overcome an early first-quarter deficit as Duke dropped a close, 55-46 decision.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils open ACC action on the road, traveling to Clemson, S.C. for a date with the Tigers on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

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