By the time Duke got serious about women’s basketball, they were already running behind. They wouldn’t catch up for almost two decades. But once they caught up, Duke became a formidable presence, not just in the ACC, but on the national level.
Emma Jean Howard was Duke’s first coach. She was also the volleyball coach. She got virtually no support and went a combined 2-26 in 1976 and 1977. The latter year was the same year Kay Yow coached NC State to a 21-3 record. Under Chris Weller, Maryland went 27-4 in 1978 and finished second in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women finals.