Durham, N.C. — No. 12 Duke left little doubt Thursday night, turning a tight first half into a runaway victory and clinching at least a share of the ACC regular-season championship with an 80-52 win over Florida State.
Toby Fournier powered the Blue Devils with 22 points and 13 rebounds, setting the tone inside as Duke dominated the glass and overwhelmed the Seminoles after halftime. With the win, Duke also locked up the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament.
The Blue Devils (21-7, 16-1 ACC) led just 33-29 at the break before erupting in the third quarter. A 13-2 surge to open the second half created separation, and Duke never looked back. The hosts outscored Florida State 47-23 over the final two quarters, fueled by relentless rebounding and balanced scoring.
Delaney Thomas delivered a standout performance with 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Taina Mair recorded a double-double of her own with 11 points and 10 boards, while Ashlon Jackson added 15 points and Riley Nelson chipped in 11.
Duke’s control on the boards proved decisive. The Blue Devils outrebounded Florida State 54-30, limiting second-chance opportunities and generating extra possessions throughout the night.
Jasmine Shavers led Florida State (9-19, 4-12 ACC) with 21 points, and Sole Williams added 12, but the Seminoles struggled to keep pace once Duke found its rhythm in the second half.
The victory marked a strong response for Duke, which was coming off a narrow 53-51 loss at Clemson on Sunday — its first defeat since Dec. 4. The Blue Devils’ 16 conference wins are the most in a single season under head coach Kara Lawson.
Florida State closes the regular season Sunday at Wake Forest. Duke wraps up its regular season slate with a road matchup against No. 21 North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
