No. 7 Duke Opens Home Slate Sunday against Holy Cross

Sunday, November 9

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

Holy Cross

Photo by: Duke Athletics

11/8/2025 12:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The Opening Tip

Duke makes its 2025-26 home debut at Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday, Nov. 9 when it welcomes Holy Cross. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., on ACCNX. Holy Cross enters the contest following its season-opening victory over ACC foe Boston College, 72-71.
Duke is coming off a 58-52 loss to No. 16 Baylor in Paris. Sophomore Toby Fournier recorded her fourth career double-double in her first career start as a Blue Devil. Fournier also recorded a career-high four blocks. Taina Mair had a solid all-around game with six points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and just one turnover.
Duke head coach Kara Lawson was tapped to serve as head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team through 2028. She will lead the USA women at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. She will also coach at qualifying tournaments, training camps and exhibitions throughout the Olympic cycle.
The Blue Devils enter 2025-26 following a 29-8 campaign that included their 12th Elite Eight appearance and ninth ACC Tournament title. All three feats marked program bests dating back to 2012-13.

A Glance at the 2025-26 Blue Devils

Entering the 2025-26 season under sixth-year head coach Kara Lawson, Duke features a veteran roster with 10 returning players from a squad that finished 29-8 overall, claimed the program's ninth ACC Tournament title and advanced to its 12th Elite Eight. The Blue Devils return nearly 70 percent of the team's offense, 64 percent of their rebounding and 63 percent of their assist totals from a season ago.
Duke is led by All-ACC Second Team selection Ashlon Jackson, reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Toby Fournier and three returning starters - ACC All-Defensive Team honoree Jadyn Donovan, Taina Mair and Delaney Thomas.
The Blue Devils supplement their experienced core with three newcomers, including 2025 McDonald's All-American Emilee Skinner. Redshirt sophomore Riley Nelson and redshirt freshman Arianna Roberson, who were also McDonald's All-Americans and top-20 recruits, add incredible depth as they make their Duke debuts this season.

About Holy Cross / Series History

Duke and Holy Cross meet for the fifth time overall and for the first time since March 18, 2007. The Blue Devils are 4-0 against the Crusaders with an average margin of victory of 43 points per game.
Holy Cross entered the 2025-26 season picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League, earning two first-place votes. The Crusaders opened the year with a thrilling 72-71 victory over ACC foe Boston College. The Eagles led by seven, 67-60, with 2:47 left in the game as Holy Cross outscored BC 12-4 down the stretch. Simone Foreman had the winning layup with one second left on the clock.
Senior guard Kaitlynn Flanagan was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League First Team, averaging 9.7 points per game and 5.2 assists per game a season ago. Meg Cahalan, a co-captain with Flanagan, averaged 10.5 points per game last season. The duo combined for 29 points, six rebounds, eight assists and just two turnovers in the win in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Ready For Tipoff

Duke makes its 2025-26 debut inside Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday. The Blue Devils are 46-4 all-time in home openers and have not lost the first home game of the season since a 72-70 loss to Virginia Tech in 1998 – six years prior to the Hokies joining the ACC.
Under head coach Kara Lawson, Duke has won its home openers by an average of 37.8 points.

Non-Stop November

Eight of the Blue Devils' non-conference matchups will take place during the month of November. Duke will play five games in 12 days – Nov. 9-20. The Blue Devils will travel to three different states Nov. 14-20 as the final six games during the month take place away from Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke is set to travel nearly 1,800 miles from Nov. 13-20, making stops in West Virginia, Virginia and Florida during that eight-day span. The Blue Devils cap the month with a trip to Las Vegas, tacking on 4,600 more miles.
Including the 8,100-mile round trip to Paris, the total mileage for the month of November is 14,500.

Up Next