Duke owned the boards 52-28

It was quite simply no contest. Duke used a 10-0 opening uppercut to build a working margin, then outrebounded the Tar Heels 35-12 in the second half en route to a 79-51 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was the biggest Duke victory over UNC since 2003 as Duke led by double digits for the final 17:27. It was also the first back-to-back wins over the Heels since the 2006-07 perfect ACC regular season, and the first of the Coach P era. The win and margin were especially remarkable given that Duke's usual first option, Jasmine Thomas, was hampered by early foul trouble along with Joy Cheek. Jasmine scored just one hoop in the first half, then didn't score from the field in the first ten minutes of the second. But during that span she contributed three boards, a block, and a steal, keying the Blue Devil defensive effort. On the night Duke spread it out offensively with 6 players in double figures - Jackson and Mitchell each with 12, Krystal Thomas with 11, Vernerey, J.Thomas, and Selby with 10. Karima Christmas was just a hoop away from that group, scoring eight on the night. The impressive rebounding output was equally well distributed as six Blue Devils had six or more boards, led by Joy Cheek with nine.

All smiles for Duke postgame

"It was a great basketball game, I'm very proud of our team," said Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie. "We're changing and we're evolving, that's what makes this time of year so special." McCallie, who was especially pleased with Duke's edge on the glass, faced a question from DWHoops Senior Editor Rob Clough about the difference between tonight's game and the preceding loss at Boston College. McCallie responded that it was, "Our readiness, focus, and intensity...they were just ready to get out there. The great teams find a personal reason to play every game, game after game. I want us to feel like that no matter who it is...and we have just a one day prep going into NC State Thursday." It was the first rivalry game and first start for freshman Allison Vernerey, who said of the Duke crowd, "All this intensity and all this energy gives you the ability to play better than usual. It makes the game fun to play."

No Cameron Fun for One

After the game UNC Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell said, "It's like we've got a little bit of plague over there in Chapel Hill," referring to the fact that both UNC basketball teams are 0-for-February. "And we're a young team, and it was extremely physical. We're going to have to bring the football players in for drills. I'm going to keep changing things up until I find something that works," a sentiment also expressed by UNC Men's Head Coach Roy Williams today.

Duke next faces NC State in Cameron, this will be the Blue Devils' 2010 Pink Zone game. Check DWHoops tomorrow for a special announcement regarding our Pink Zone event in support of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.