Wednesday, February 15, 2012

ACC WBB Action In-Game: #5 Duke Blue Devils vs Virginia Tech Hokies

Blue Devils cage Hokies 67-45, lose Jackson early on


The #5 Duke Blue Devils (22-3, 13-0) contained the visiting Virginia Tech Hokies (7-19, 3-10) and earned their thirteenth consecutive ACC win by a score of 67-54 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C...

In-game notes, photos, and video

Just under 20 minutes to go until tip-off in this ACC Women's Basketball match-up between the fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.


Warm-up: Duke vs Virginia Tech - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting

This is the 21st meeting between these two teams and the second this season.

Duke took the first game 61-34 that was played at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.

Duke currently leads the overall series, 18-2, winning the last 16 in a row.


Tip-off coming up soon with In-game notes to follow (hit refresh to get updates)

1st Half


Tip off - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting
  •  Duke scores the first two points off the tip-off as Richa Jackson starts it off for the Blue Devils
  • The Hokies throw it away on their possession and Shay Selby connects on a short jumper - Duke leads 4-0 with 17:22 to play in the half
  • Virginia Tech scores their first points of the game - a long three-pointer off the glass 
  • Haley Peters scores two and the Hokies turn it over after the FT rebound
  • Williams goes up for two and is hacked by four players and she goes to the line

Elizabeth Williams - Cheryl Treworgy - PrettySporty.com
  • Williams hits her shots and Duke leads 8-7 as the Hokies are riding the hot hand of guard Aerial Wilson
  • Tech continues to hit shots as Duke trails 13-9 with 14:33 remaining as coach Joanne P. McCallie calls a timeout
  • Tricia Liston subs in for Shay Selby and hits her first three immediately after the inbounds for Duke
  • Duke's Chelsea Gray steals a pass and goes up for the lay-up which is good and gets the extra shot - Duke back in the lead 14-13 at 14:01
  • Gray continues to score points from the FT line and drives the basket to get two more - Duke leads by four - 17-13 
  • Hokies are shooting 60% from the field - perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc - trail the Blue Devils by five now - 21-6
  • Peters and Selby lead Duke with four points apiece 
  • Hokies are led by Wilson's 11 points so far to keep them close to their hosts
  •  Duke now leading 26-20 with 9:21 to go as Virginia Tech is turning the ball over and gets a few more points
  • Blue Devils forward Richa Jackson drives for the basket and goes down clutching her left knee as the game is halted to tend to her


Richa Jackson goes down - Cheryl Treworgy - PrettySporty.com
  • Liston hits two free throw and the Blue Devils now lead 28-20 
  • Duke is shooting 10-11 from the FT line making the difference so far - even while shooting 40% from the field at the moment
  • Tech still playing the Blue Devils in single-coverage but falling prey to no-looks and dumps from Chelsea Gray to Elizabeth Williams
  • Blue Devils are strong on the boards tonight also helping to make the difference as they extend the lead to 34-22
  • Duke hasn't turned the ball over yet either
  • Blue Devils apply their press and zone defense which cause Tech to speed up their ball movement and causing them to turn the ball over 
  • Virginia Tech has not had a FT all half as Duke is not being over-aggressive under their basket
  •  Coach P adding some size as Williams, Peters, and Allison Vernerey are all out on the floor with two minutes remaining in the half and Duke leading by 10 - 34-24
  • Hokies' shooting has come back down to 39% making it tougher for them to keep pace with the Hokies
  • However, Duke's 36% shooting is allowing Tech to stay close - Duke leads 35-26 with 28.3 seconds to go in the half
  • Virginia Tech can't hit on their last possession and trail by nine at the half
After the 1st half: Duke, 35, Virginia Tech 26

Duke - 10-29 (34.5 %), Virginia Tech - 11-30 (36.6%)


Injury Update: Duke's Richa Jackson suffered a left knee injury - will not return to the game


2nd half


Haley Peters - Cheryl Treworgy - PrettySporty.com
  • Hokies miss on their firs possession to start the half before both teams trade lay-ups by Wilson and Williams
  • Virginia Tech is keeping a hot hand to start the half and only trail 39-33 with 16:41 left in the half
  • Big steal by Gray and long bounce pass to Selby is only halted short by a lay-up by Liston that doesn't drop - still lead by six
  • Williams getting triple-coverage in the paint - goes to the line for two shots and drops one out of two as Blue Devils lead 40-33 with 15:40 to play
  • Hokies still in it as Duke struggles from the field - shooting 40% right now and not connecting on their usual easy passes and scores 
  • Peters drops a baby hook for two and Duke leads 42-35 with 12 minutes to go
  • Virginia Tech continues to use the passing lanes on the outside of the Duke zone to get long shots off
  • Duke leads by five - 42-37 after Tech gets their own rebound and timeout is called 
  • Big defensive stand by the Blue Devils on the ensuing Tech possession
  • Liston comes up the court and hits her second three of the game (1st in the half) and puts Duke ahead 47-37
  • Duke turns it over but denies Virginia Tech again and then Liston lights up another one beyond the arc and extends the Blue Devils lead to 13 - largest of the game as Tech calls a timeout with 9:50 to go in the half
  • Looks like wider offensive set by Duke is spreading Tech defense and denying the double and triple-teams in the paint - allowing the lanes to open up  
  • Blue Devils maintain tough defensive stance but foul and put Tech on the line - score first two points in over four minutes of play
  • Duke extends lead to 56-39 as Gray scores on successive possessions - 6:10 to play 
  • Virginia Tech's shooting has returned with two consecutive three-pointers - now trailing by 11 - 56-45
  • Selby hits her first three-pointer of the game and Duke is up 61-45 with 3:00 to go

Tricia Liston - Cheryl Treworgy - PrettySporty.com
  •  Liston drops two FT's after the timeout - 63-45 as both teams battle for a loose ball
  • Gray turns the ball over and sets up the offense to Williams who misses, but Liston gets the rebound
  • Back to Williams and she doesn't miss a second time as Duke now leads by 20 with under a minute to play
  • Liston extends the lead to 67-45 after two FT's
  • Tech continues to move the ball looking to score
Final Score: Duke 67 , Virginia Tech 45



Duke controls play during final minutes of play - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC


Post-game comments: Duke Coach Joanne P. McCallie - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC