Duke Blasts Green Bay 76-60 in Season Opener
Arianna Roberson and Riley Nelson each scored 15 points as the No. 4 Blue Devils extended their lead after halftime to beat the Phoenix.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Duke controlled the second half to defeat Green Bay 76-60 on Tuesday night, securing a season-opening victory for the No. 4 ranked Blue Devils. The game started close, but Duke’s offensive surge in the third quarter separated the teams. Arianna Roberson led the scoring with 15 points and four blocked shots, while Riley Nelson also finished with 15 points. The Blue Devils are the preseason favorite to win a third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference title.
The matchup began with Green Bay, the preseason pick to win the Horizon League title for a fourth straight year, keeping the game tight. Duke played without preseason all-ACC selection Toby Fournier. The teams traded leads in the first half, with Duke holding a slim 33-31 advantage at the break. The Blue Devils struggled to score inside during the second quarter, managing zero points in the paint.
Duke changed its approach after halftime. The team scored 16 points in the third quarter, a sharp increase from the second. Defensively, Duke held Green Bay without a basket for more than six minutes of the period. Jordan Wood and Riley Nelson hit layups to give Duke a 49-37 lead with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter. Wood added a three-point play later in the period, stretching Duke’s lead to 16 points.
The Blue Devils never allowed Green Bay to close the gap in the fourth quarter. The Phoenix stayed within seven points early in the final frame before Duke pulled away. Duke shot 44.3% from the field, according to the game report, and secured a 44-31 rebounding advantage. That dominance on the boards generated 19 second-chance points for the Blue Devils.
Four Duke players reached double figures in scoring. Texas transfer Aaliyah Crump made her debut with 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Maddy Skorupski led Green Bay with 16 points and six rebounds. Kristina Ouimette added 14 points for the Phoenix. Green Bay struggled from the field in the second half, shooting 22.2% on 6-of-27 attempts. The team relied heavily on free throws, making 12 of 14 in the third quarter to keep the deficit manageable.
Green Bay hosts Loyola Chicago on Saturday for its home opener. Duke travels to San Antonio to face North Texas on Sunday.
