Duke Blasts Bucknell, 92-49

Game Recap by Rob Clough

Bucknell came into the game with just a 4-6 record, but the Patriot League preseason favorites played tough teams like James Madison, Marist and Penn State. They came within 9 points of the Lady Lions in the Bison's home gym. Duke's focus was on stopping Patriot League preseason player of the year Hope Foster, who came into the game averaging 10 ppg and 7 rpg. Guard Amanda Brown was another concern, since she averaged 13 ppg and shot 46% from three coming into the Duke game.

The Devils wound up neutralizing both players. Foster was smothered by Duke's relentless post attack and held to 1-5 shooting, 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers. Brown was just 4-12 from the field for 9 points and coughed up the ball 5 times. If it wasn't for guard Kesha Champion's career night of 21 points, the Bison might have been hard-pressed to score even 30 points. The Devils forced the Bison into 19 first-half turnovers and then held them to just 27% shooting in the second half. Duke's depth and the press took a toll, and the Devils did a fine job of exerting their will on the game and setting the tempo.

Duke started the game with a quick 6-0 run. Chante Black found Wanisha Smith on a cut, Joy Cheek stuck back a Jasmine Thomas miss, and Abby Waner got a steal and layup. Bucknell coach Kathy Fedorjaka called a timeout to settle her team, and they traded baskets for the next couple of minutes. Champion hit 3 straight shots off the dribble, essentially hitting what Duke was allowing her to take. Waner found Cheek for a long jumper and then Abby sank a 25' three to make it 13-6. After a Brown basket, Smith hit 2 foul shots and Cheek hit another jumper to push the lead to 17-8. Brown countered with an open three to keep Bucknell within range, but Waner rained down a trey to match that.

The lead would hover at around 7 for the next couple of minutes. Bucknell was doing a pretty good job of holding Duke to a single shot at this point, and their willingness to match Duke's pressure with aggressiveness was getting them some good looks at the basket. Jasmine Thomas, who was doing a nice job forcing tempo and dictating the action, whipped the ball up the floor and then found Black in the post. Black immediately dished to a cutting Smith on a pretty play that fired up the team. Duke forced a miss and Smith drained a three in the corner from Waner to make it 27-15. Fedorjaka called time-out to settle her team and it worked for a minute, as one of their shooters got a clean look at the basket. When Bucknell got to shoot the ball in the opening nine minutes of the game, they were getting great-looking shots. It's just that they had already piled up 9 turnovers.

Duke followed that Bucknell score with a knockout 14-0 run. The run was built on effort and pressure, and started with Black sticking back a Keturah Jackson miss. KJ then tipped away the ball for a steal to Thomas, who then turned on the afterburners on her way to the basket. After another turnover, Black followed her own shot twice to score, just outworking her opponents. Thomas stole the ball again and was fouled after making a nifty basket. Black then got the ball and relocated it out to Waner for a three, and then hit her on a cut. All told, Bucknell turned the ball over on an astonishing 8 straight possession as Duke pushed its lead to 41-17.

The Bison regrouped after that pummeling, actually outscoring Duke 14-12 in the last seven minutes of the half. Taylor Phillips hit back to back jumpers, Champion hit a three and Foster scored her only basket during a 9-2 run that brought Bucknell within 45-29. Duke's defense broke down a bit, but recovered in the last four minutes, as they held Bucknell to just 2 points. Meanwhile, Black scored inside a couple of times, Karima Christmas came off the bench to provide some energy with a drive and a stickback, and Black hit a couple of free throws. At the half, the Devils led 53-31. For the half, Duke had more offensive rebounds (17) than Bucknell had rebounds (16). Duke had just 6 turnovers to Bucknell's 19, and scored 27 points from the Bison miscues. Waner led the way with 13 points but Black had 11 and an eye-popping 6 offensive rebounds.

The starters meant business to start the second half, going on a deflating 10-2 run to remove all doubt as to the game's outcome. Thomas and Cheek stood out here, as Thomas hit a feathery 5' jumper and had assists to Cheek and Black and Cheek scored 6 points. A few plays later, Smith dove to the floor for a loose ball and kept her wits about her as she calmly fired the ball down to Cheek while prone, who hit Waner for a layup. This play was the in microcosm: effort, vision and efficiency all coalesced in one beautiful play. Duke was ahead by nearly 30 at the time, but this is the kind of play that creates excellent work habits and could pay dividends down the stretch.

The teams traded baskets for a few minutes as the lead stayed at around 25. Duke once again went on a run, this one a more modest 8-0. It was all about attacking the basket, as Black, Gay and Cheek all scored near the basket and Gay also scored in transition. That made the score 76-43 with eleven minutes left. After back-to-back Bison baskets, Bucknell would only score 2 points in the final 10:40 of the game and none in the last six minutes. Duke simply would not let them score, even with the deep reserves in. The team of Emily Waner, Brittany Mitch, Bridgette Mitchell, Carrem Gay and Karima Christmas was enormously effective as a unit, moving the ball around nicely. Bucknell had 9 missed shots and 9 turnovers down the stretch, while Duke kept pounding the offensive boards. For the game, Duke's 33 offensive rebounds eclipsed Bucknell's 32 total rebounds.

About the only troubling stat was Duke going 7-16 from the foul line, though they did at least get 16 attempts. Coach P was pleased after the game, especially with how strong Duke was with the ball on the boards. The week of practice gave the team time to really work on this aspect of their games; impressively, five different Duke players had at least 5 rebounds. She was also impressed with how the team shared the ball; four different players had at least 3 assists. Duke's press looked excellent for long stretches of the game, which was a welcome sight after so many teams ripped through half-hearted Duke pressure. In this game, it was clear that the players were all on the same page with regard to the way they attacked the ball, and this made them a formidable group to deal with. Duke still has plenty to work on, but they now have a template on how this particular group of players can anticipate each other's moves on the floor and make passes without being exhorted to do so. The lessons on teamwork, toughness and intensity must be internalized as the Devils will face tougher opponents again.