DURHAM, N.C. – As the preseason hoops magazines start hitting the newsstands, the Duke women's basketball program has been tabbed No. 8 and No. 13, respectively, in The Sporting News and Athlon Sports Magazines.
In The Sporting News issue, the Blue Devils were listed No. 8 behind South Carolina, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Baylor, Ohio State, Florida State and George Washington. Tennessee and Oregon State round out the top 10.
Duke was tabbed No. 13 in the Athon Sports Magazine. Earning the top spot was Connecticut followed by Notre Dame, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Baylor, Louisville, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Northwestern, Duke, Arizona State and Florida State in the top 15.
Blue Devil sophomore
Azurá Stevens was selected preseason Second Team All-America in both issues. Stevens, a native of Raleigh, N.C., averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals as a rookie with the Blue Devils. The 6-5 wing received Second Team All-ACC Honors and All-ACC Freshman team accolades this past season. Stevens set Duke freshman records for field goals made (194), rebounds (271), offensive rebounds (120), double-figure scoring games (28), double-doubles (10) and double-figure rebound games (12).
As a team, Duke returns three starters --
Rebecca Greenwell,
Amber Henson and Stevens – along with five other letterwinners as head coach
Joanne P. McCallie enters her ninth year with the Blue Devils.
Duke welcomes the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation that includes five very talented incoming freshmen. Included in the top-ranked recruiting class are
Haley Gorecki,
Kyra Lambert,
Crystal Primm,
Angela Salvadores and
Faith Suggs.
The Blue Devils will open the 2015-16 campaign at Penn Friday, Nov. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Prior to the season opener, Duke hosts a Blue/White Scrimmage Oct. 24, exhibition versus Pfeiffer Nov. 5 and a final exhibition Nov. 8 against Saint Leo.
All home games are played in the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium. For ticket information, contact the Duke Ticket Office at (919) 681-2583 or 1-877-375-3853. You can also purchase tickets online at www.GoDuke.com.
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