DWHoops Photos by Orin Day

Kathleen Scheer goes high for a rebound, battling with Janitsha Williams (#11)

Unlike last year's mostly veteran Duke team that started the year as something close to a finished product, this year's team is very much in flux. That certainly showed during an underwhelming first half against overmatched Wingate University. The NCAA Division II Bulldogs had the game tied nine minutes into the proceedings and were behind by just 6 with six minutes left in the first stanza. It didn't help that Chelsea Gray and Allison Vernerey were held out for precautionary reasons and that Richa Jackson was suspended for a game for violating team rules. As a result, Duke had to run a tight 8-player rotation. Duke got its act together in the second half, attacking the boards and the basket more aggressively while playing better defense en route to the 88-44 win. Wingate coach Barbara Nelson said that her team was "scattered, smothered and covered" (Waffle House hash-brown style!) by Duke's pressure, but she was also proud of how hard her team competed. Playing without star Kurie Washington, the Bulldogs never backed down and weren't intimidated by Duke's physicality. Jasmine Thomas and Karima Christmas were in midseason form with 23 and 17 points, respectively, but it was the efficient and intense play of Kathleen Scheer that was the real eye-grabber, as she scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Throw in 22 rebounds from Krystal Thomas, and it's clear that Duke's veterans came ready to play. Folding in young and injured players will take time, but that's what exhibition games are for.

Duke Blue Devils Team Box Score

PTS FG FG % 3FG 3FG % FT FT% A O-D-REB BLK STL TO PF 1st 39 15-38 39.5 1-12 8.3 8-10 80.0 6 10-17-27 5 10 12 7 2nd 49 20-44 45.5 5-14 35.7 4-8 50.0 10 17-14-31 1 7 6 7 TOT 88 35-82 42.7 6-26 23.1 12-18 66.7 16 25-31-56 6 17 18 14

Wingate (Exhibition) Team Box Score PTS FG FG % 3FG 3FG % FT FT% A O-D-REB BLK STL TO PF 1st 23 9-29 31.0 2-7 28.6 3-5 60.0 8 4-13-17 0 4 16 8 2nd 21 5-22 22.7 1-8 12.5 10-11 90.9 3 4-9-13 2 3 14 9 TOT 44 14-51 27.5 3-15 20.0 13-16 81.3 11 8-22-30 2 7 30 17 Please support DWHoops with a site membership today! Click Here to Learn More