The Nutshell by DWHoopsDuke's decade-long streak in College Park ended with a thud down the stretch.
Duke had to play from behind the entire game, and while the Devils were able to
tie the game up with six minutes to go, the team panicked down the stretch when
Maryland countered their furious run and abandoned the disciplined play that
got them back into the game. The key play may have come when Duke went down
70-68, and they not only missed 3 cracks at the basket, but Joy Cheek fouled
out trying to get the rebound. Abby Waner in particular missed several quick
shots and struggled to even make a layup, and also committed a couple of fouls. This was especially disappointing, because she kept Duke in the game in the
first half and had several key defensive plays in Duke's run.
The last six
minutes were also disappointing because the Terps were giving Duke every
opportunity to stay in the game with some bad shots, turnovers and missed
rebounds. The biggest problem Duke had was keeping the Terps off the foul
line, sending them there early and often. Duke clearly had the talent and
depth to keep up with the Terps, but not the focus or efficiency against a team
that has so much offensive firepower. Duke wasn't able to do the little things
necessary to disrupt Maryland; indeed, the Terps did a much better job of
taking Duke out of what they wanted to do than vice-versa.
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