BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — Duke outlasted California 78-74 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Haas Pavilion. The Blue Devils built a 42-39 halftime lead but saw the Golden Bears surge ahead with a 25-point third quarter. Duke responded with a 24-10 fourth-quarter edge to secure the Atlantic Coast Conference victory. Arianna Roberson scored 20 points for Duke, while Delaney Thomas also added 20. Ashlon Jackson contributed 17 points and seven assists. California’s Sakima Walker led all scorers with 18 points. Duke forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 24 points, and shot 18 for 21 from the free-throw line. The Blue Devils improved to 10-6 overall. California fell to 9-8.

BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a decisive final stand, the Duke women’s basketball team escaped Haas Pavilion with a narrow 78-74 victory over California on Thursday night in a nonconference clash organized by the Atlantic Coast Conference. The visiting Blue Devils, who improved to 10-6, appeared poised for a comfortable win after a blistering first quarter, but endured a prolonged offensive drought before mounting a fourth-quarter comeback to finally subdue the persistent Golden Bears, who fell to 9-8. Duke established early dominance, racing to a 26-point first quarter behind efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Blue Devils forced seven California turnovers in the opening period, converting them into easy baskets. Arianna Roberson, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, set the tone with 10 of her team-high 20 points in the first, while backcourt partner Ashlon Jackson of China, Texas, facilitated the attack. California, however, refused to capitulate in front of a home crowd of 985. The Golden Bears methodically chipped away at the deficit throughout the second quarter and then seized control after halftime. A 25-point third quarter, fueled by the interior presence of Sakima Walker and the playmaking of Mjracle Sheppard, saw California erase Duke’s lead entirely and build its own advantage. Walker, a 6-foot-5 post from Columbus, Ohio, finished with 18 points, while Sheppard of Kent, Washington, logged 40 minutes with nine points and six assists. The Golden Bears’ surge was built on a stark reversal of fortune. After committing 17 turnovers for the game, they tightened their ball security in the third, while Duke’s offense grew stagnant, managing only 12 points in the period. California led 64-54 heading into the final quarter, having outscored Duke 44-22 across the middle two frames. The most important part of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter, where Duke’s defense reawakened to spark the game-winning run. Trailing by 10, the Blue Devils unleashed a full-court press that rattled California into critical mistakes. The Golden Bears managed only 10 points in the final period on 4-of-15 shooting and committed five turnovers. Duke’s closing 24-10 run was a collective effort. Delaney Thomas of Charles Town, West Virginia, provided a critical interior boost, scoring six of her 20 points in the fourth. Taina Mair of Boston, Massachusetts, came up with two of her four steals in the final minutes, and Jackson, who finished with 17 points and seven assists, hit a crucial pull-up jumper to extend the lead to four with under 90 seconds remaining. California had chances in the final minute. After a Gisella Maul layup cut the Duke lead to 74-72 with one second left, the Golden Bears fouled Jackson on the ensuing inbounds play. The Duke guard calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory. Maul, a freshman from Cedar Park, Texas, was a bright spot off the bench for California, scoring 13 points in just seven minutes. While the scoring was close, key statistical disparities told the story. Duke’s pressure defense generated 12 steals and forced 17 California turnovers, which the Blue Devils converted into 24 points. Duke also dished out twice as many assists, 12 to six, highlighting superior ball movement for much of the night. Both teams were nearly identical from the free-throw line, each going 18 for 21, and California won the battle in the paint, 44-40. The win gives Duke momentum as it heads into a tough stretch of its schedule, beginning with a trip to Stanford on Sunday. California, meanwhile, will look to rebound from the narrow defeat when it hosts Wake Forest, also on Sunday. The game, which saw the lead change hands six times, ultimately hinged on Duke’s ability to reclaim its defensive identity when it mattered most, turning a potential road loss into a hard-fought victory.

BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams riding divergent streaks will meet Thursday when the Duke Blue Devils visit the California Golden Bears in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup organized by the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Blue Devils (9-6) arrive at Haas Pavilion having won five straight games, most recently an 82-68 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday. Duke’s offense has been potent during the run, averaging 85.2 points per game. Guard Taina Mair has been central to that surge, averaging 14.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds over the last five contests. She poured in 23 points with six rebounds and six assists against the Fighting Irish, teaming with Toby Fournier (20 points) and Delaney Thomas (10 points, 12 rebounds) for a balanced attack. Conversely, California (9-7) looks to halt a two-game skid after dropping road games at North Carolina and North Carolina State to open the new year. The Golden Bears fell 71-60 to the Wolfpack on Sunday despite a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double from forward Taylor Barnes. Barnes has been a consistent presence, averaging 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season. The game presents a contrast in momentum. Duke’s winning streak includes dominant performances, such as a 100-49 rout of Boston College and a 97-54 win over South Dakota State. California, meanwhile, has struggled against power conference opponents recently, losing four of its last five such games, with the lone win in that stretch coming against USC. Historically, this is a rare meeting between the programs. The matchup serves as a key resume-building opportunity for both squads as they navigate the latter half of their schedules. Duke will continue a West Coast trip at Stanford on Sunday. California remains home to face Wake Forest on Sunday. Tipoff is set for Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.