Monday, February 6, 2012

ACC WBB Action In-Game: #5 Duke Blue Devils vs #23 North Carolina Tar Heels

Ready for prime time in Cameron Indoor - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
Just under 45 minutes until tip-off between the #5 Duke Blue Devils and the #23 North Carolina Tar Heels at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.

North Carolina leads the series between the two programs, 47-34 all-time.

Duke is the current two-time defending ACC champion

The last time these two teams met was last Spring in the ACC Championship game that the Blue Devils won 81-66 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

National Ranking comparisons:

Team

Scoring Offense: Duke (14) / North Carolina (29)

Scoring Defense: Duke (15)/ North Carolina (74)

Scoring Margin: Duke (4)/ North Carolina (21)

Field Goal %: Duke (8)/ North Carolina (34)

Assists/game: Duke (12)/ North Carolina (30)

Blocked Shots/game: Duke (11)/ North Carolina (2)

Individual

Points/game: Duke (Elizabeth Williams - 207)/ North Carolina (Chay Shegog - 74)

Rebounds/game: Duke (Elizabeth Williams - 89)/ North Carolina (Laura Broomfield - 23)

Assists/game: Duke (Chelsea Gray - 10)/ North Carolina (She'la White - 220)

Blocked Shots/game: Duke (Elizabeth Williams - 3)/ North Carolina (Chay Shegog - 20)

Field Goal %: Duke (Elizabeth Williams - 63)/ North Carolina (Chay Shegog - 23)

Triple Doubles: Duke (Chelsea Gray, Elizabeth Williams - 2)/ North Carolina - None)

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Tip-off coming up in 25 minutes.

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1st half

Action late in the first half - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
  • Both teams show the tough defensive battle this one will be as they both miss on their first possessions - Duke turns it over while North Carolina can't score on their possession
  • First points not scored until the 18:00 mark as Carolina hits a FG - Duke responds with a three from Shay Selby
  •  Carolina takes early lead 6-4 with 15:53 to go in the half
  • Coach McCallie having some words with one of the officials as play goes on - difference of opinion will occur
  • Duke causing UNC to turnover the ball but can't take full advantage of each opportunity - take lead with two straight FT's from Elizabeth Williams - lead 9-8 with 13:10 to go
  • With just under 12 minutes remaining Duke goes to a zone defense and the Tar Heels miss on their possession
  • Duke turns around and goes upcourt with Tricia Liston connecting on a three-pointer to take the lead 12-10
  • Duke goes on a 7-0 run to take the lead 16-10 at the 10:37 mark
  • The Blue Devils are doubling Carolina's Chay Shegog and boxing her out to earn defensive rebounds so far 
  • Liston is on fire for Duke scoring seven points at the halfway point
  • Duke's defense is keeping the Tar Heels off balance
  • Chelsea Gray steals the ball and dishes it to Liston - another two points and she's fouled
  • Duke leads 22-12 with 7:52 to go as TO is called
  • Liston makes the FT and Duke leads 23-12
  • Tar Heels' Shegog held to two points so far, but hits FT's to up it to four points in first 14 minutes of the game
  • Richa Jackson answers with a jumper and Duke keeps the lead 25-14
  • UNC answers back with two but Jackson hits a three and is followed up with another three from Liston
  • Duke leads 32-16 with 5:20 to play in the half
  • The Blue Devils continue to dominate the Tar Heels as their defense is crippling any offense from Carolina
  • Selby hits another three-point which is answered by one from Carolina - Duke leads 39-21 with 2:30 to go
  • After a TO Gray comes upcourt and drops a three from beyond the line to the delight of the crowd at Cameron Indoor
  • Gray drains another one from long range to push the Blue Devils lead to 45-21 - TO called at 1:16 mark
  • Shegog hits two FT's but Liston is on fire and hits another three - Duke up 48-24
  • Shay Selby hits a baby jumper from the top of the key and its 50-24 at the half
Notes:

  • Duke shooting 50% during the 1st half while UNC hits only 28% of its shots from the field
  • Duke's Tricia Liston leads all scorers with 16 points followed by Chelsea Gray with 10 of her own
  • The Blue Devils' Elizabeth Williams and the Tar Heels' Laura Broomfield both pick up seven rebounds apiece
2nd half 

2nd half action - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
  • Blue Devils start with a quick two points in the paint from Williams
  • Carolina can't answer and Duke is on a 6-0 run to to start the half
  • Tar Heels' Shegog gets her first points of the half while Duke transitions to continue its perfect scoring early in the half, now leading 58-26 with 17:46 remaining
  • Shegog slowing getting into a groove from the FT line - now has nine points
  • Danielle Butts hits a jumper with a TO called - Duke leading 62-30
  • Allison Vernerey gets a long inbound pass from Gray and drops two
  • Vernerey gets back on defense and swats the ball away on UNC's ensuing drive to the basket
  • Carolina's Shegog still trying to narrow Duke's lead but long range three from Haley Peters keeps the gap very wide - 69-36 with 13:31 to go
  • Brittany Rountree hits a three for the Tar Heels
  • Gray snags the ball out of mid-air as Carolina tries to set up its offense, carries it upcourt and dishes it to Williams - an easy bucket
  • A missed shot by Carolina and Duke goes down the other way and Jackson puts two more on the board - Duke now leads 73-41 with 11:41 to play
  • Carolina doubles Liston on the dribble and dishes it to Williams underneath who finishes it to add to the lead
  • Shot clock counting down, Jackson loses the dribble, gets it back, turns around and hits it at the buzzer
  • Duke just dominating on the defense as Carolina cannot find any rhythm or not as much as the Blue Devils at this point
  • Duke is shooting 64% in the second half - leading 84-45 with 7:36 remaining in the half
  • Vernerey drops two on the easy lay-up
  • Carolina comes down the other way but can't drop it and Selby carries the ball upcourt
  • Selby passes it into the paint to Williams and quickly dishes it to Johnson for another lay-up
  • Duke leads 88-51 with 4:18 left
  • Carolina trying to generate some offense with under four minutes to go but Blue Devils' defense is holding them up
  • Tar Heels manage to get two, now trailing 89-53
  • Duke has now substituted for all players on its roster as Durham native Jenna Frush gets some Pt with just over two minutes remaining
  • Duke's bench out on the floor and is working hard to keep the margin wide - leading 93-53 with 1:24 left
  • Both teams still fighting to the end during this rivalry game - Duke with possession and Liston hits another three - 96-55 with 21.3 seconds to go
  • Tar Heels sink a FT 
  • Duke holds the ball - game over
Duke wins 96-56

Duke celebrates big win over Carolina - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
Postgame


Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie


ACC WBB Action Live: #5 Duke Blue Devils host #23 North Carolina Tar Heels

Chelsea Gray - Chris Baird, Baird Photography
It's the Battle of the Blue - Tobacco Road edition - between the #5 Duke Blue Devils and the #23 North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels visit Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Monday night as one of the best rivalries in sports will hit the hardwood and be aired on national television.

The Blue Devils look to defend their 27-game home court winning streak against ACC opponents.

Duke is in the final leg of a three-game homestand after losing to #3 Connecticut (61-45) and beating Wake Forest (75-43).

North Carolina is coming off recent wins on the road at Wake (75-71) Forest and at home against Virginia (64-56).

Inside Duke

Record: 18-3, 9-0 ACC
Ranking:  #5 (AP), #6 (Coaches)
Last Result:  W, 75-43 vs. Wake Forest, 2-2-12
Up Next: at Boston College, 2-9-12
Head Coach: Joanne P. McCallie (5th Year)
Duke Record:  132-29 (5th Year)
Career Record:  448-177 (20th Year)

Inside North Carolina

Record: 17-5, 7-2 ACC
Ranking:  #23 (AP), #24 (Coaches)
Last Result:  W, 64-56 vs. Virginia, 2-3-12
Up Next: at Miami, 2-8-12
Head Coach:  Sylvia Hatchell (37th Year)
UNC Record:  604-228 (26th Year)
Career Record:  876-303 (38th Year)

Noting Duke...

  •  Richa Jackson (60.0) leads the league in ACC games only for field goal percentage, while ranking sixth overall (51.6)
  • Vernerey has played in team-best 93 straight contests
  • Duke ranks first in the ACC with a 36.0 three-point field goal percentage
  • Chelsea Gray's 6.2 assists per game ranks No. 1 in the ACC, while Elizabeth Williams is fourth in rebounds (8.5) in the ACC
  • Gray is tied for the lead in the ACC with a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio
  • Williams is averaging 4.6 blocks per game in ACC action, which leads the league
  • Duke is the reigning back-to-back ACC Champion and has won a total of seven ACC Championships. 
Noting North Carolina..
  • North Carolina has won five consecutive games in conference play and is 4-2 on the year in road games
  • Chay Shegog (16.7 points, 7.9 rebounds), Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds) and Brittany Rountree (9.0 points, 2.4 rebounds) are the Tar Heels' leading scorers
  • Head coach Sylvia Hatchell is in her 26th season at the helm of the program after guiding North Carolina to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last year
   
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