Sunday, January 22, 2012

ACC WBB action: #5 Duke Blue Devils vs #8 Maryland Terrapins

Right from the opening tip-off Maryland started the scoring off and Duke responded just as quickly.


1st Half

The Terps took a 7-2 lead after the first minute and a half of play until Duke got it's game together under the leadership of guard Chelsea Gray and Haley Peters.

Throughout the first half, both teams traded baskets and lead changes.

After the end of the first half, the Blue Devils led the Terrapins 44-43.

Duke - Top scores after the half: Duke - Elizabeth Williams (12 pts), Haley Peters (13 pts)

Maryland - Top scorers after the half: Tianna Hawkins (15 pts), Alyssa Thomas (14 pts).

2nd Half



Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

After impressive shooting performances coming from both teams (Duke 50.0%, Maryland 54.5%) during the first half, the tempo adjusted in terms of the defensive pressure during the start of the second half.

Duke took advantage of Maryland's poor shooting performance to start the half and led 48-45, and continued to win the rebound battle under the board.s 

The Blue Devils went on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 56-45 with 13:27 remaining.

Maryland then went on a 7-0 run of their own to cut the Duke lead to 61-54.

Alyssa Thomas was the force that Maryland needed to keep them close to the Blue Devils as she hit short jumpers, lay-ups and three-pointers.

Possessing only a three-point lead with 6:57 remaining in the half, Duke had to regroup in order to maintain their stranglehold on the lead during a time out.

Richa Jacskon had scored four straight points to keep Duke ahead while the Terps continued to come back at the time.

The x-factor in the game for the Blue Devils was Haley Peters whose hot hand extended the Duke lead to 71-64 at the five-minute mark.

With Duke ahead 71-66 with under four minutes to play, key turnovers by Jackson and Williams allowed Duke to possess the ball and take their time on offense.

With just under three minutes to play, Gray hit a three-pointer that released a thunderous roar from the crowd and put the Blue Devils ahead 74-68.

However, Maryland's Lynetta Kizer answered back and narrowed the lead to 74-70 with 2:36 remaining.

Gray continued to keep the Terps at bay as her short jumper with 1:04 remaining in the half kept the Blue Devils at six-points.

Maryland's ensuing possession came up empty as Duke got more opportunities at the free throw line.

With every attempt to catch up to Duke that the Terrapins made, the Blue Devils ensured that their free-throw shooting would help them to keep the lead beyond six points.



Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

By the end of it all, Duke won its 34th consecutive game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and extended their perfect 7-0 record in ACC play to date by beating Maryland 80-72.


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