The Nutshell:
The Devils faced a somewhat difficult situation in
playing NC State between Maryland and Tennessee. One couldn't help but be
distracted by the press clippings from Saturday's game and the hype
surrounding next Monday's showdown. Duke couldn't afford to do this
against a State club that is undefeated at home and has the kind of size
to give Duke some problems. Indeed, Duke was sluggish in the first half.
They couldn't keep State off the foul line (10 first
half attempts), had trouble defending 6-7 Gillian Goring (8 points) and
gave up too much ground on the boards (-3 in the half).
Help came from an unlikely source: Brittany Mitch. She was held out of
the Maryland game and didn't look happy about it. Coach G told her that
she needed to be more aggressive if she wanted to play, and that's just
what she did. With Duke down 4 late in the first half, Brit hit a three,
converted a three point play, and got a steal & runout to put the Devils
up and spark the team.
Duke put the defensive clamps on the Wolfpack Women in the second half
and quickly built a double-digit lead three minutes in. The Devils held
the Pack to just 11 points during the four fourteen minutes of the second
stanza and cruised to a 20 point lead. Goring was held to 2-11 from the
field in the second half. Bottom line, Duke got an ACC road win and
they're now 19-0, 5-0 in the league.
Orin's Halftime Notes:
- Duke 34, N.C. State 28
- Duke struggles early, then sparks offense via 9
steals
- Mitch (8) & E. Waner (5) provide crucial points
- 1st Half ACC Select Video had neither game clock nor announcers
(Microphone was live for 2nd half.)
- Rob's "trap game" prediction accurate thus
far;
visitors Locker Room at Reynolds may need new
paint...
Orin's Wrapup Notes:
- Halftime "adjustments" successful?
Yes. Duke opened the 2nd half
with a 19-9 run
- Game was not as close as the final score
- Duke's last FG came at 7:19, score 58-39
- Mitch goes from 0 minutes vs. MD to:
- 10 Pts on 4-5 FG (1-2 3FG) in 17 min
- Leading Duke Scorer, tying Harding
- E. Waner extends 3FG made streak; NCSU gets none
- Ten Duke players play, five shoot 50+% from floor
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