DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — The Duke women’s basketball team delivered a defensive masterclass, overwhelming Wake Forest from the opening tip and cruising to an 80-44 victory in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

The Blue Devils, improving to 16-6 overall, suffocated the Demon Deacons with relentless pressure, forcing 29 turnovers which they converted into 31 points. The tone was set early, as Duke’s defense held Wake Forest to just two points in the second quarter, building a 42-10 halftime lead from which the visitors never recovered. Wake Forest fell to 12-11.

The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Duke established a dominant and ultimately insurmountable lead through defensive intensity and efficient transition offense. After a slow start from both teams, the Blue Devils seized control with a 12-0 run midway through the period, fueled by consecutive steals and scores. The sequence epitomized the entire contest: disruptive defense leading directly to easy offense. Wake Forest committed nine turnovers in the first quarter alone, leading to 10 Duke points and setting the stage for the lopsided result.

Delaney Thomas, a 6-foot-3 forward from Charles Town, West Virginia, anchored Duke’s formidable front line, contributing 11 points, eight rebounds, a block and a game-high four steals in just 24 minutes. Her defensive presence was pivotal in the early onslaught.

Duke’s offense was balanced and efficient, shooting 44.9% from the field and assisting on 19 of its 31 made baskets. Riley Nelson, a guard from Clarksburg, Maryland, led all scorers with 16 points, adding five rebounds and five assists. The Blue Devils also dominated inside, outscoring Wake Forest 36-22 in the paint and outrebounding them 48-38.

For Wake Forest, the struggles were comprehensive. The Demon Deacons shot just 30.4% from the field and managed only seven assists against their 29 giveaways. Guard Milan Brown of Baltimore provided a lone bright spot, recording a double-double with 13 points and a remarkable 17 rebounds, but she also accounted for seven of her team’s turnovers. Guard Caitlyn Jones added 10 points.

Duke’s defense was so effective that Wake Forest’s leading scorer, Brown, did not record her first field goal until the 6:39 mark of the second quarter. By that time, Duke led 28-8. The Blue Devils extended their lead to as many as 39 points in the fourth quarter.

The victory was Duke’s third in a row, all by decisive margins, following ACC road wins at Miami and Pittsburgh. Wake Forest has now lost three consecutive conference games.

Duke next travels to face Louisville on Thursday. Wake Forest visits SMU on the same night.

The game attracted a crowd of 2,502 to Cameron Indoor Stadium.