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

North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell

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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

   

Recent Duke Blue Devils news on Examiner.com:

#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...

 

Huskies win 61-45, end Blue Devils’ streak at Cameron

The #3 Connecticut Huskies (20-2) took away a 61-45 win over the #5 Duke Blue Devils (17-3) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Monday night.The Huskies took even more away from the Blue...

 

#5 Duke Blue Devils ready to host #3 Connecticut Huskies

The #5 Duke Blue Devils (17-2) will host the #3 University of Connecticut Huskies (19-2) at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, a match-up of ACC and Big East opponents who will meet in a nationally-televised game in...

 

Tar Heels bring out campers at Duke and NC State

The North Carolina Tar Heels handily defeated the NC State Wolfpack by a margin of 74-55 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Thursday night.The college basketball season in the Triangle is in...

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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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NCAA WBB Action Live: #3 UConn Huskies vs #5 Duke Blue Devils

Huskies win 61-45, end Blue Devils’ streak at Cameron

The #3 Connecticut Huskies (20-2) took away a 61-45 win over the #5 Duke Blue Devils (17-3) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Monday night.The Huskies took even more away from the Blue...

Live game blog:

The #3 Connecticut Huskies are in town to take on the #5 Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Monday night.


Both teams are expected to play to a full house as the game will be nationally televised on ESPN, so to say it is a big game would be mildly understating it.

Duke students aka Cameron Crazies are starting to roll in and have already been filling the stands with their Duke Blue t-shirts on.

A look at the some of the stats coming in:

Category: Team (National Rank)

Scoring Offense: Connecticut (4) / Duke (10)
Scoring Defense: Connecticut (1) / Duke (18)
Scoring Margin: Connecticut (1) / Duke (4)
Field Goal % : Connecticut (1) / Duke (4)

Assists/game : Connecticut (1) / Duke (10)
Blocked shots/game: Connecticut (32)/ Duke (7)
Steals/game: Connecticut (10/ Duke (7)

Category: Individual (National Rank)

Points/game: Connecticut - Tiffany Hayes (79), Bria Hartley (176) / Duke - Elizabeth Williams (208)
Rebounds/game: Duke - Elizabeth Williams (78)
Assists/game: Connecticut - Kelly Faris (70) , Bria Hartley (89) / Duke - Chelsea Gray (10)
Blocked Shots/game: Connecticut - Kiah Stokes (166) / Duke - Elizabeth Williams (3)

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Probable Starters:

Duke - Haley Peters, Elizabeth Williams, Chelsea Gray, Richa Jackson, Tricia Liston


Connecticut - Tiffany Hayes, Caroline Doty, Bria Hartley, Stefanie Dolson, Kelly Faris

Teams coming back out for final warm-up - tip-off in 22 minutes

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With a combined three losses amongst them these two teams will bring it and leave it all out on the floor.

The Huskies have something to prove and so do the Blue Devils.

The action gets going right from the tip-off.

Huge block by Williams right of the first chance that the Huskies get on the offense.

A turnover as Connecticut loses the ball in their back court.

Duke loses the ball and the Huskies get another chance on the offense but miss.

Both teams taking time to pace each others' defense out - tied 2-2 after 90 seconds of play.

The chess match has begun.

UConn scores, Duke matches it as Gray hits the first three of the game - Duke leads 5-4 with 17:14 left in the first half.

With 14:24 to go in the first half, Connecticut leads 11-8.

Tiffany Hayes leads the Huskies with five points while Chelsea Gray's two three-pointers has her at six points - 11:59 left in the half.

Gray hits another three to keep Duke close as Connecticut tries to find their groove, but can't quite find it.

Enough to stay ahead of the Blue Devils 22-15 with 7:04 remaining in the first half.

Connecticut has put a small string of shots while the Blue Devils struggle from the field shooting 27 % - 31- 19 advantage for the Huskies with 2:00 remaining in the first half.

At the end of the first half, Connecticut leads Duke 31-23.

Blue Devils start the second half with possession of the ball but cannot convert on their chance.

Connecticut misses on their offensive chance and Chelsea Gray answers - Duke trailing 32-25.

Connecticut turning the ball over after both teams trade baskets - Gray and Williams starting to make a stand for Duke as they cut the Huskies lead to five - 34-29 with 17:19 remaining in the second half.

The Huskies making of the most of each shot taken as they start the half 2-3 while the Blue Devils seem to be rushing their shots still and their 2-7 shooting performance early in half shows it.

Connecticut 37, Duke 29 - 15:57 remaining in the second half.

Both teams battling as shots are not dropping easily for either team but Connecticut is managing to hit shots when it needs to and keep Duke at a distance.

The Huskies lead 42-29 as Duke's Coach P takes a timeout with 12:43 remaining in the half.

With about 11:30 left in the half Duke switches its defense to a press and zone that creates turnovers but the Blue Devils still struggle to score in transition.

 

With seven minutes remaining Duke trails Connecticut 50-33.


Duke continues to miss shots but so do the Huskies.

Finally Haley Peters hits a three followed up by a steal by Gray who passes to Jackson who gets the easy lay-up.

Duke cuts the Connecticut lead to 12 points - 50-38 with 5:17 remaining in the half.

A few more shots from both teams and the Huskies still hold a 14-point lead over the Blue Devils, 55-41 with 3:14 remaining and Duke in possession of the ball.

Gray feeds a pass into Williams and she can't convert on the lay-up opportunity.

Duke continues to struggle from the field against the Huskies.

Duke fouls consecutively to get Connecticut in the bonus trailing 57-43 with 1:28 remaining in the half.

The Huskies add a few more from the free throw line as well as a lay-up and it is 61-43 with 45.5 seconds left to play.

The Blue Devils continue to fight but the Huskies kill the clock and win 61-45.

UConn post-game interviews

Duke post-game interviews

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#5 Duke Blue Devils paralyze Clemson Tigers in 81-37 win

The #5 Duke Blue Devils (17-2, 8-0) ramped up their defense during the second half and executed a solid shooting performance throughout to down the Clemson Lady Tigers, 81-37, in Littlejohn Coliseum  in Clemson, S.C. on Friday night.

Duke paralyzed Clemson by holding them to zero field goals in the final 13:08 while hitting 52.3 percent of their field goals in extending their ACC record to 8-0.

Tricia Liston shot a team-high 16 points while freshman Elizabeth Williams totaled 14 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots.

Williams is now the all-time single-season freshman leader at Duke with 73 blocks.

 

 Post-game: Coach McCallie, Tricia Liston and Elizabeth Williams - GoDuke.com

Notes of interest:

 With the victory Duke...

• Won its 15th straight game against Clemson and seven in a row playing in Littlejohn Coliseum
• Won 19 out of the last 22 versus the Lady Tigers
• Scored 48 points in the paint and scored 33 points off 22 Clemson turnovers
• Held Clemson to only 37 points, which marks the fourth time this year an opponent has failed to reach 40 points
• Dished 23 assists for the game which is a season high in ACC play
• Outrebounded Clemson, 43-30

Sophomore Richa Jackson

• Finished with 13 points, six rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes.
• Totaled double-figure scoring for the fourth straight game and eighth time out in the last nine games.

Sophomore Tricia Liston

• Had a team-high 16 points as she drained 3-of-5 treys
• Snapped a streak of three straight games without scoring double-figures

Sophomore Haley Peters

• Dished a career-high six assists
• Had 12 points and three rebounds in 23 minutes
• Totaled double-figure scoring in two straight games and 12 times this season

Sophomore Chelsea Gray

• Dished nine assists and scored seven points to go along with five rebounds
• Seven games now with eight or more assists

Freshman Elizabeth Williams

• Had 14 points, five rebounds, five blocks and two assists in 25 minutes
• Moved into third place on the ACC single-season freshman blocks list with 73
• Moved into fifth place on Duke's single-season blocks list with 73
• Posted double-figure scoring in the fifth straight game and the 13th time this season

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All-Nets 5'9"@9' Blog

ACC WBB action: #5 Duke travels to take on Clemson

The #5 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 7-0 ACC) travel to take on the Clemson Tigers (5-12, 1-5) at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. on Friday.

Duke is riding a 10-game winning streak on the season and has won 10-straight ACC contests dating back to last year.

Duke and Clemson will meet for the 66th time in school history with Duke holding a slight advantage in the series, 33-32.  

In games played in Clemson, Duke has won six in a row.

The Lady Tigers defeated Duke, 93-75, at Clemson in 2000-01, which was the last time Clemson has knocked off the Blue Devils. 

Duke

• Duke ranks first in the ACC with a 35.0 three-point field goal percentage
• Nine different Blue Devils have registered double-figure scoring so far on the season
• Richa Jackson leads the ACC with a 64.9 field goal percentage in ACC games only, while ranking third overall (54.3%)
• Chelsea Gray’s 6.2 assists per game ranks No. 1 in the ACC
• Elizabeth Williams is third in rebounds (8.9) and is averaging 4.7 blocks per game which leads the ACC

Clemson

• Clemson enters Friday’s game following a 94-65 road loss to Wake Forest last Sunday
• The Tigers are 1-5 in conference play, including a 52-47 victory over North Carolina on Jan. 12 in Chapel Hill
• Nikki Dixon leads the team with a double figure average in scoring (11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds)

Blue Devils collect more ACC honors

After beating ACC and AP Top 25 foe, the #8 Maryland Terrapins (18-2, 5-2) by a score of 80-72 on Sunday, the #5 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 7-0) etched their names on a few more...

Chelsea Gray Named the Ronald McDonald House Charities Duke Student-Athlete of the Week

Earlier in the week, Blue Devils sophomore guard Chelsea Gray was named the Ronald McDonald House Charities Duke Student-Athlete of the Week, after helping to lead the team to victories over Georgia Tech and #8 Maryland during the previous week.

The #5 Blue Devils posted an 80-72 victory over Maryland on Sunday to improve to 7-0 in league action and 16-2 overall.  

Duke also traveled to Georgia Tech and registered a key 79-62 road win over the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday. 

Gray averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds in last week’s action.  

She closed the weekend with her third double-double of the season as the 5'11" point guard scored a season-high 17 points and dished 11 assists against the Terrapins. 

Gray also pulled down five rebounds and had one steal in 36 minutes of play.

She scored seven points over the final 2:56 of the contest to help seal the 80-72 victory for Duke, which won its school-record 34th straight overall game in Cameron and 26th consecutive ACC home contest. 

In a key road contest at Georgia Tech, Gray totaled a then season-high 16 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals.  

Gray hit 2-of-4 treys and 5-of-6 free throws on the week, while posting a 15-5 assist-to-turnover ratio.  

Gray has notched three games this season with 10 or more assists.

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ACC WBB postgame: #5 Duke beats #8 Maryland 80-72

 The #5 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 7-0) continued to show their perfection in ACC women's basketball with an 80-72 win over the #8 Maryland Terrapins (18-2, 5-2)  in front of 7,228 witnesses at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Devils' undefeated record in conference play leaves them sitting firmly atop the standings approaching the mid-point of the ACC schedule.

In addition to Duke and Maryland, the ACC currently has two other teams in the AP Top 25, the #11 Miami Hurricanes and the #24 North Carolina Tar Heels.

Latest news on the Duke Blue Devils from Examiner.com:

Blue Devils top Terrapins 80-72

 

The #5 Duke Blue Devils continued to hone their perfect record in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) season play by beating the #8 Maryland Terrapins 80-72 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Sunday afternoon.Forward Haley Peters...

Notes of interest:

With the Duke Victory…

• Totaled the school’s 300^th all-time ACC victory
• Registered its 34th consecutive win at home, which continues a school record
• Registered its 26th straight home ACC win
• Won its 50^th ACC contest over the last five years and 64th over the last six.
• Won its 57th out of the last 58 games in Cameron
• Won the fourth straight contest versus Maryland at home in Cameron, including 11 out of the last 12
• Improved to 3-0 in Cameron against Maryland when both teams are ranked in top 10.  

Postgame video: 

Coach Joanne P. McCallie

 

Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

 Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

 

Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

Sophomore Haley Peters

• Scored a career-high 21 points
• Had a career-high 10 field goals made and career high 12 attempts
• Tied a career high with her sixth three-pointer made of the season
• Collected double-figure scoring in the first half with 13 points - has posted double-figures 10 games this year

 

Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

Sophomore Chelsea Gray

• Had her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 assists
• Had a season-high 17 points, which surpassed a season-high 16 points from the game before
• Collected 10 or more assists for the third time this season
• Totaled double-figure scoring for the 12^th time this season and the fourth time out of the last five games

 

Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

Freshman Elizabeth Williams

• Posted 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal
• Posted double-figure scoring for the fourth straight game and the 12^th time this season
• Tied a Duke single-season freshman record with 68 blocks, after swatting two today
• With her 68 blocks, now ranks tied for fourth on the ACC single season freshman list

Junior Allison Vernerey

• Tallied 10 points and three rebounds in 15 minutes
• Hit 5-of-9 field goals
• Collected double-figure scoring third game this season and the second in ACC action

Sophomore Richa Jackson

• Notched 11 points, four rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes
• Posted double-figure scoring for the seventh time out of the last eight games

Other Duke Notes…

• Had a season-low nine turnovers
• Dished 16 assists
• Had 46 of 80 points in the paint
• Hit 50.0 percent of its field goals, marking the seventh time this year with 50.0% FG% or better
• Outrebounded Maryland, 41-30, including 16 offensive boards
• Hit all seven free throws the Blue Devils attempted
• Scored 16 second chance points
• Posted five players with 10 or more points marking the fourth time this season
• Duke and Maryland met for the ninth time in school history when both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally

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