The third-seeded Duke Blue Devils officially opened their 2026 NCAA Tournament campaign with a statement win, dismantling the College of Charleston 81-64 inside the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium. Marking their fourth consecutive tournament appearance under head coach Kara Lawson, the Blue Devils (25-8) utilized an elite defensive second quarter to pull away from the Cougars and secure a spot in the Round of 32.
A Defensive Masterclass at Cameron
While the College of Charleston briefly held a one-point lead early in the first quarter, the advantage was fleeting. Duke’s trademark defensive pressure quickly smothered the Cougars’ rhythm. The Blue Devils’ defensive intensity peaked in the second frame, where they held Charleston to just 10 points on a dismal 2-of-16 shooting performance.
Bolstered by an 11-0 scoring run midway through the second quarter, Duke extended its lead to 45-26 by halftime. Sophomore standout Toby Fournier led the charge during this stretch, finishing the game with a team-high 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting. The interior dominance was supplemented by sophomore Delaney Thomas, who nearly notched a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds, ensuring the Cougars had no answer in the paint.
A Historic Individual Performance
Despite the lopsided score, the night belonged to Charleston’s Taryn Barbot in the record books. The junior guard delivered a breathtaking individual performance, pouring in 36 points—the highest scoring output by any opponent against Duke this entire season and the highest in the 2026 tournament to date.
Barbot’s scoring barrage, which included six three-pointers and 14-of-16 shooting from the free-throw line, allowed the Cougars to outscore the Blue Devils 23-15 in the fourth quarter. While it wasn’t enough to secure an upset in Charleston’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Barbot’s performance cemented her place as the Cougars’ all-time Division I scoring leader and left an indelible mark on the tournament’s opening weekend.
Momentum Toward the Second Round
Duke’s victory continues a remarkable late-season surge. Since a rocky 3-6 start to the season, Lawson’s squad has gone on an incredible 22-2 run, including back-to-back ACC Tournament titles. While Lawson expressed frustration with the team’s 20 turnovers, which led to 22 Charleston points, the Blue Devils’ efficiency on the offensive end (49.2% from the field) proved too much to overcome.
With the first-round hurdle cleared, Duke remains at home in Durham for the second round, where they look to carry this momentum deeper into March. For the Blue Devils, the goal is clear: translate this regular-season dominance into a deep postseason run and potentially another Final Four berth.