If defense and depth wins championships, the women's basketball team is on the right track.
Boosted by a bench that provided 38 percent of its scoring and 49 percent of its rebounding, and ignited by a defense that forced 50 turnovers, Duke notched two blowout wins this weekend over UNC-Asheville and UNC-Greensboro to open the season. Despite these impressive numbers, they felt that their play still left a bit to be desired.
"We had moments where we were a very good team," coach Gail Goestenkors said. "We need to work on extending those moments."
Even without their two top returners in seniors Kira Orr, (team suspension), and Tye Hall, (injury), the Blue Devils romped 90-52 over UNC-Asheville in their regular season debut Saturday. Sparked by a flurry of three-pointers, the Blue Devils put the game away with a 17-2 run early in the second half which gave them a 56-26 lead, and made the remaining 15 minutes virtual garbage time.
With 3:45 left in the first half, freshman Missy West had taken four shots and scored two points in a very inauspicious start to her collegiate career. Following a Blue Devil timeout, West promptly buried a three-pointer, then a jumper, then another three before the half-ending horn. She did not cool off a bit after halftime, as she nailed two more threes and added two layups for good measure to open the second half. In a span of under eight minutes of game time, West had scored 18 of the Blue Devils 28 points, and saw the lead balloon from five to 30.
"I don't know what happened," West said. "I just started hitting, and kept on hitting. I guess I just got lucky."
With Hall out, the Bulldogs were able to double and triple-team the Blue Devils' lone true post starter, sophomore Payton Black. Though Black finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, Asheville forced Black to take questionable shots on more than one occasion in the first half, and kept the Blue Devils in check offensively.
"We were looking too much for Payton and they were triple-teaming her," Coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I told the perimeter players to look for their outside shots to open up the inside."
Apparently, Goestenkors's words hit home with the Blue Devils. Senior forward Windsor Coggeshall, Howard and West hit four consecutive three-pointers to start the second half.
After extending the lead to 30, the Blue Devils showed their depth as the bench never let Asheville within 25. Sophomore Nazrawit Medhanie led the pine crew with 12 points, including three treys. Freshman Peppi Browne, despite playing with a protective cast on her left hand, led the team in steals with four and grabbed six rebounds.
With Orr back from her one-game suspension, the Blue Devils turned in another quality defensive effort with a 98-68 drubbing of UNC-Greensboro Spartans Sunday.
The Spartans had numerous problems handling the ball, leading to 29 turnovers, including 18 in an error-plagued first half. The Blue Devils parlayed the turnovers into a 17 point lead at halftime.
"Our defense is getting better," Goestenkors said. "We're putting more pressure on the ball, getting up in the passing lanes better than we have ever have."
Taking advantage of a smaller Spartan lineup, Black hit nine-of-13 from the field and finishing with 21 points and six rebounds. Orr played impressively in her season debut, leading the team with 22 points and handing out five assists.
"Overall, she did an excellent job," Goestenkors said. "She took the ball to the basket, got to the free throw line and distributed the ball well."
Sophomore forward Takisha Jones, who fouled out against Asheville, rebounded with a strong 11 point, five rebound performance, and had a solid game on the defensive end. Medhanie had her second straight strong outing coming off the bench, gathering five rebounds and hitting for 12 points, including a perfect four-for-four from behind the arc.
"[Medhanie] came off the bench in both games and did really well," Goestenkors said. "She has been spotting up and hitting the three, and playing great defense."
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