ACC WBB Action Live: #5 Duke Blue Devils vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons

#5 Blue Devils get tough in 75-43 win over Demon Deacons

The #5 Duke Blue Devils (18-3, 9-0) powered through the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-10, 2-7) recording a 75-43 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Thursday night. Richa Jackson (11...

In-game notes and commentary: 

The Blue Devils (17-3, 8-0) are coming off only their second loss in Cameron Indoor Stadium over the last four years as they host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-9, 2-6) on Thursday.

The Blue Devils will look to defend their 26-game home court winning streak against ACC opponents and a 36-game win streak versus Wake Forest.  

Duke is in the middle of a three-game homestand as the Blue Devils will next host 23rd-ranked cross-Triangle rival North Carolina on Monday, Feb. 6.

Pre-game notes:

Inside Duke

Record: 17-3, 8-0 ACC

Ranking:  #5 (AP), #5 (Coaches)

Last Result:  L, 45-61  vs. Connecticut, 1-30-12

Up Next:  vs. North Carolina, 2-6-12

Head Coach:  Joanne P. McCallie (5th Year)

Duke Record:  131-29 (5th Year)

Career Record:  447-177 (20th Year)

Wake Forest

Record: 12-9, 2-6 ACC

Ranking:  #NR (AP), #NR (Coaches)

Last Result:  L, 71-75 vs. North Carolina, 1-29-12

Up Next: at Boston College, 2-5-12

Head Coach:  Mike Petersen (8th Year)

WFU Record:  117-118 (8th Year)

Noting Duke:

• Allison Vernerey (65.8) and Richa Jackson (62.7) rank 1-2 in ACC games only for field goals percentage , while Jackson ranks fifth overall (52.3)
• Vernerey has played in team-best 92 straight contests
• Duke ranks first in the ACC with a 35.8 three-point field goal percentage
• Chelsea Gray’s 6.4 assists per game ranks No. 1 in the ACC while Elizabeth Williams is fourth in rebounds (8.5) in the ACC
• Gray leads the ACC with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio
• Williams is averaging 4.8 blocks per game in ACC action, which leads the league 

Noting Wake Forest:

• Wake Forest enters matchup against Duke with an overall record of 12-9 after falling to North Carolina, 75-71, in Chapel Hill on Sunday
• Coming off of two consecutive ACC losses, and is 2-3 in road contests this season.
• Lakevia Boykin (11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds) and Sandra Garcia (10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds) are averaging double figure scoring for the Demon Deacons  

Live blog notes (coming up):

Opening tip-off:

Difference in starting line-up tonight is that Shay Selby starts while Tricia Liston sits

1st half:

• Wake Forest wins the tip and scores a quick two points - Duke scramble a little on its first possession, but ties it up at 2-2
• Duke goes up 5-2 but the Demon Deacons catch up - 5-5 with 17:00 to go in the 1s half
• Duke leads 14-7 with Haley Peters already collecting nine points already
• Chelsea Gray adds one from the free throw line
• Elizabeth Williams still taking some time to get going in the paint
• Wake Forest is sharp in picking off Duke passes to stay close - trailing 15-9 w/ 12:55 remaining
• Chelsea Gray hits her first three-pointer of the game - wide open and all net
• Wake Forest hits a three and Duke takes a timeout leading 22-14 with under eleven minutes to play
• Shay Selby goes up for what looks like an easy lay-up but is fouled hard while going airborne and landing hard - she gets up breathing hard but manages to shoot her free throws - misses them both
• The Demon Deacons can't convert on their possession but Gray hits a wing shot off the glass and extends the Duke lead
• Duke committing more turnovers with bad passing - seems like they're telegraphing them too much and taking Wake Forest's defense for granted
• With 7:35 remaining, Duke lead is now 28-14
• After the timeout Duke goes to a full-court press that the Demon Deacons break but can't score on
• Big steal by Gray and an open toss to Peters who converts on the lay-up - lead 30-14 now

Technical problems experienced over last 5 minutes:

• With just under a minute to play, Duke leads 34-19 - not a a great half but one that Wake Forest has tried to use physical play to wear the Blue Devils down
• If the Demon Deacons were shooting better than 25%, Duke would be in serious trouble

At the end of the half: 

Duke 36, Wake Forest 19

Duke Notes at the half:

Leading scorers: Haley Peters (11 pts), Elizabeth Williams (9 pts), Chelsea Gray ( 8 pts)

Shooting: 15-32 (46.9%)

FT: 4-9 (44.4%)

2nd half:

• Duke starts with possession but can't convert on it - Wake continues to miss shots, but Duke is not doing themselves any favors
• Duke ball movement looks very slow compared to what hey are used to 
• Selby finally hits her first three and Wake returns with a long ranger of their own - 39-22 after the first few minutes of play
• Williams with back-to-back baskets in the paint as Wake Forest continues to play body-to-body as Duke now leads 43-25 
• Gray goes up for a lay-up and gets fouled - misses the extra point at the free throw line
• Demon Deacons turn it over and Selby hits another three to extend the lead to 48-25
• Elizabeth Williams putting up the rejection signs as Wake Forest makes its shot attempts
• Duke still having to work hard to earn theirs as Richa Jackson is blocked on her baby-hook attempt - she misses the free throw on that sequence
• Duke leading 52-29
• Jackson gets another chance a minute later and sinks two more - Blue Devils now leading 57-29 with 11:15 to go
• Blue Devils riding a 9-1 run over 3:28 while still trying to find 'their' rhythm against the Demon Deacons

2nd half action with 10 minutes to go - defense

2nd half action with 10 minutes to go - offense

• Coach P. puts out the bench for a few runs up and down the court as Allison Vernerey, Ka'lia Johnson, and Kathleen Scheer getting some playing time
• With 7:50 remaining, Duke leading 59-30
• Wake Forest continuing to play Duke tough with hard fouls and physical play - Kathleen takes a hard fall while shooting after Wake defender powered through her - Peters comes in for Scheer 
• Duke extends lead to 64-36 with 5:20 remaining after Gray drops two free throws
• Peters gets the ball stolen from her but Liston gets it back and drives it in for a basket
• Another Wake Forest turnover and Williams drops another two points the hard way
• The Demon Deacons hit a three but so does Peters
• Duke leads 71-38 with under three minutes to play
• Under two minutes to play and Duke gives its starters a breather
• Local product Jenn Frush at the line for two - sinks them both to extend Duke lead to 75-41
• Wake continues to miss shots and Duke continues to play sloppy at the end but as time winds down, Duke maintains its unbeaten record in ACC play

Duke beats Wake Fores 75-43.

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