LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Duke women’s basketball team used a disruptive defensive performance to secure a 71-57 victory over the Liberty Lady Flames on Sunday at Vines Center.

In a game defined by turnovers and defensive pressure, the Blue Devils forced Liberty into 24 giveaways, converting them into 26 points. Duke’s defense was the story, amassing 14 steals and 7 blocks while holding the Lady Flames to an offensive rating of 75.4 points per 100 possessions.

Duke’s offense, while not always efficient, did enough to build and maintain a lead, finishing with a 93.8 offensive rating. The Blue Devils shot 46 percent from the floor and outscored Liberty 36-30 in the paint.

The game began inauspiciously for both teams, with a flurry of turnovers and missed shots stalling any early offensive rhythm. Duke finally broke through at the 7:47 mark of the first quarter when Toby Fournier scored on a layup assisted by Taina Mair. The Blue Devils began to find their footing as the quarter progressed, with Ashlon Jackson hitting a pair of three-pointers to help Duke establish an early advantage.

Liberty struggled to find consistent offense against Duke’s length and activity. The Lady Flames were paced by Emmy Stout, who worked effectively inside, but the team’s ball-handling issues prevented any sustained runs. Duke led 22-13 after one quarter.

The Blue Devils continued to apply pressure in the second period, extending their lead by capitalizing on Liberty mistakes. Key contributions came from across the roster, with Delaney Thomas and Arianna Roberson providing scoring and rebounding. Liberty’s Avery Mills and Lydie Mwamba hit shots to keep the deficit from ballooning, but Duke took a 35-27 lead into halftime.

After the break, Duke methodically stretched its lead. The Blue Devils’ defense remained the catalyst, generating steals and difficult shots for Liberty. Stout continued to be a bright spot for the Lady Flames, but Duke’s balanced attack, featuring timely baskets from Fournier, Jackson, and Mair, kept the home team at arm’s length throughout the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw Liberty make a final push, cutting the Duke lead to single digits at times. However, every time the Lady Flames threatened, the Blue Devils responded with a key basket or a defensive stop. Fournier and Thomas made crucial scores down the stretch, and Duke’s defense locked in during the final minutes to seal the 14-point victory.

Fournier, a sophomore from Toronto, led all Duke scorers with 18 points in just 23 minutes, adding 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. Jackson, from China, Texas, contributed 16 points and 5 assists, while Thomas added 12 points. Mair orchestrated the offense with a game-high 7 assists.

Roberson was a force on the interior for Duke, narrowly missing a double-double with 9 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 2 blocks and 2 assists.

For Liberty, Stout, a San Diego native, delivered a strong performance with a game-high 21 points and 7 rebounds. Ify Nwaobi of Calgary, Canada, controlled the glass with 11 rebounds and dished out 3 assists. Mills, playing in her hometown of Lynchburg, scored 13 points.

With the win, Duke improves to 3-2 on the season, while Liberty evens its record at 2-2.

Duke’s next game is on the road against South Florida on Thursday. Liberty returns to action at home against UVA Wise next Wednesday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Duke was projected with an 87.60 percent probability to win the contest.