Fournier Paces Duke to Commanding Victory Over Belmont

Thursday, November 21

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

5-1,0-0ACC

Belmont

2-3,0-0MVC

Belmont

Duke

Toby Fournier celebrates making a three-point basket

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Fournier Paces Duke to Commanding Victory Over Belmont

11/21/2024 9:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman Toby Fournier scored a career-high 25 points off the bench to pace the 14th-ranked Blue Devils to a commanding 79-47 victory over Belmont in women's basketball action Thursday evening inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Fournier knocked down 10-of-15 shots from the floor, including draining her first career three-pointer, pulled down six rebounds and blocked three shots in 25 minutes of action. The Blue Devils shot a season-best 55 percent from the field with Oluchi Okananwa and Ashlon Jackson contributing 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Jordan Wood cleaned the glass for the Blue Devils, corralling 13 rebounds to go with her eight points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The teams traded baskets to open the contest before Belmont jumped out to a 9-5 lead midway through the opening period.
Duke issued a response, snatching momentum back via a 12-0 run, giving the home team a 17-9 advantage after one.
Jackson and Fournier led the Blue Devil efforts during the 10 minutes with seven and six points, respectively.
The Blue Devils turned it up a notch in the second quarter, putting up 23 points while limiting Belmont to just eight.
Duke outscored the Bruins 19-2 over the final 6:44 with Fournier scoring 10 of the 19 points. Defensively, the Blue Devils forced the Bruins into seven turnovers and held the Bruins to just 1-of-7 in that span.
Duke knocked down 10 field goals at a 53-percent clip in the second quarter with seven of those coming on assists.
Fournier led the charge in the quarter in the quarter with 10 points while Jackson chipped in five.
The duo ended the first half in double figures – Fournier leading the way with a career-high 16 points while Jackson netted a dozen.
Belmont attempted to mount a comeback early in the third, trimming the deficit to 11 (44-33) with just under five minutes to play.
Duke answered the call once again, this time closing the quarter with 13 of the last 15 points to take a 57-35 lead into the final period.
Another 20-point quarter by the Blue Devils put the final touches on the game as Duke locked down the 32-point dub, 79-47

NOTES:

Duke finished with three in double figures - Toby Fournier (25), Oluchi Okananwa (15) and Ashlon Jackson (14). The Blue Devils have had at least three players register double-digit points in each game this season.
On the offensive end, Duke shot 55 percent (32-58) from the field, 43 percent from distance (6-of-14) and 75 percent at the charity stripe (9-of-12).
Duke's field goal and free throw percentages marked season highs while the three-point percentage checked in at No. 2 for the Blue Devils this season.
The Blue Devils have scored at least 75 points in each game. For the season, Duke is putting up 81.7 points per contest.
Duke finished the game with a 53-percent assist rate as the team dropped 17 dimes on 32 buckets.
Defensively, the Blue Devils forced 20 Belmont turnovers, collected eight steals and sent back eight Belmont shots - the latter a season best.
Duke held the Bruins to 47 points - 20.3 below their respective season scoring average. It marks the third opponent Duke has held below 50 points.
For the sixth time in as many games Duke won the superlative battle. The Blue Devils swept all five categories, finishing the contest with sizeable margins in points off the bench (51-6), in the paint (46-20), second chance points (19-2) and in transition (15-6), while also holding a 26-19 advantage in points off turnovers.
The 51 bench points is the second most by the Blue Devils this season, second only to the 58 scored against Dayton (11.14). Duke has netted at least 30 points from its reserves in five of the six games including three games with 45-plus
Fournier turned in a stellar performance with a career-high 25 points, six rebounds and three blocks - the latter also a collegiate best.
Fournier, who scored 16 of her points in the first half, has netted double figures in five of the first six. She leads the team with 14.5 points per contest.
Okananwa turned in a strong all-around performance with 15 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Okananwa did most of her damage after the halftime break scoring 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including two from distance.
Jackson notched her fifth consecutive game in double figures with 14 points. She has averaged 15.0 points during this stretch.
Senior Reigan Richardson and sophomore Jordan Wood chipped in eight points apiece while also having career days on the glass.
Wood corralled 13 rebounds while also adding a career-best four assists and a steal to her stat line.
Richardson rounded out her strong all-around performance with nine boards, three assists and two blocks.

UP NEXT:
Duke heads to the West Coast to take part in the 2025 Ball Dawgs Classic, the MTE taking place at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. Tournament action tips off with the Blue Devils taking on No. 10 Kansas State Monday, Nov. 25 at 3 p.m., ET.

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