Duke women hold off Miami comeback in Coral Gables, winning 74-58 to stay unbeaten in ACC

Duke leads early, absorbs third-quarter surge, then closes with an 8-point fourth quarter by Miami

No. 20 Duke defeated Miami 74-58 on Thursday night, Jan. 29, 2026, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, a result that kept the Blue Devils unbeaten in Atlantic Coast Conference play at 10-0 and improved their overall record to 15-6. Miami fell to 12-9 overall and 4-6 in the ACC.

The game was defined by two distinct stretches: Duke’s early control and Miami’s brief push out of halftime. Duke opened a 21-9 lead after the first quarter and carried a 39-23 advantage into the break. Miami responded with its best period in the third quarter, outscoring Duke 27-16 to cut the margin to five entering the fourth (55-50). Duke then reasserted control, holding Miami to eight points in the final quarter while scoring 19 to put the game away.

Efficiency and perimeter defense tipped the balance

Duke shot 28-for-56 from the field (50%) and went 7-for-13 from three-point range (54%). Miami finished 23-for-56 (41%) but struggled from the perimeter, making 1 of 11 three-point attempts (9%). That gap from beyond the arc proved decisive in a game where both teams finished with 35 rebounds.

Duke also produced 20 assists and seven turnovers, limiting the empty possessions that can fuel opponent runs. Miami recorded 13 assists with 13 turnovers.

Key performers: Fournier powers Duke; Kyle leads Miami inside

• Duke forward Toby Fournier led the game with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting and added 11 rebounds and two blocks.

• Duke guard Taina Mair scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three, and added five assists.

• Duke guard Ashlon Jackson contributed six points but directed the offense with six assists.

• Miami center Ra Shaya Kyle scored 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds, providing the interior scoring that powered the third-quarter rally.

• Miami guard Gal Raviv added 16 points and two assists, while the Hurricanes’ perimeter shooting overall did not match their midrange and interior production.

Turning point: Miami’s momentum stalls late

After scoring 27 points in the third quarter, Miami managed only eight in the fourth, while Duke’s offense returned to its first-half pace.

The result underscored Duke’s ability to build margins through balanced scoring and ball security, while Miami’s comeback attempt was ultimately limited by missed three-point shots and a fourth-quarter drop in offensive efficiency.