When animals fail to adapt to hostile conditions, they run the risk of dying. And when basketball teams fail to adapt when a game isn't going exactly as planned, they run the risk of losing.
The Duke women's basketball team was able to avoid being killed off by another Atlantic Coast Conference foe on Friday night by adapting to overcome several obstacles. Despite trailing well into the second half, the changes the Blue Devils made turned out to be the keys to their upset of No. 10 Clemson.
For the first 20 minutes, Duke battled what has become a familiar problem-opposing post player scoring with ease. Center Jaci Stimson hit four of her five first -alf shots to pace Clemson with 11 points at the break. Duke center Payton Black shook off her recent shooting slump to respond with 11 points of her own, but it was obvious she would need to try something different on defense to avoid being pushed around by the larger Stimson inside.
"Both of the post players were a lot stronger than me," Black said. "So I kind of changed my defense up a little and concentrated on using my quickness, releasing and then getting around, and I think that helped me towards the end."
Black's decision paid noticeable dividends as Stimson managed just six points in the second half and was unable to earn any trips to the free throw line. Offensively, Black picked her spots by converting both of her second half attempts and drawing several fouls.
Clemson countered by turning to its perimeter game, which made it necessary for Duke to find another offensive option. Enter Tye Hall. The senior forward took only one shot and was scoreless at the end of a half, but asserted herself in the post to the tune of 18 points in the second half.
"It seemed like they were doubling down from all sides," Hall said. "They were open, so we needed to drive and then look, or look for the skip... and I think that opened it up later on."
The offense continued its growth as Hall made the latest step in regaining the form that made her one of the best post players in the ACC before an offseason injury. Duke coach Gail Goestenkors touched on this point in her remarks after the game.
"[In] the first half she wasn't getting the ball a lot, but she was working very hard for the ball," she said. "Every game she's been better and better with her confidence. Today was just a culmination of that."
The Blue Devils still found themselves trailing with 10:40 to play when more adversity arrived in the form of guard Kira Orr's fourth foul. Goestenkors had little choice but to take Orr out of the game, which suddenly left the team without its offensive catalyst. Duke needed one final adaptation to stay in the game.
Freshman Peppi Browne turned out to be the key. Browne assumed the playmaking duties during a 7-0 run that tied the game at 51 by setting up Hall and Black for easy scoring opportunities. Her heady play also included several big rebounds and her only field goal of the game, a clutch jumper with just 2:30 in the game. Browne finished with seven points, six boards and a game-high seven assists.
"I think the biggest key to this game was when [Orr] went out with the fourth foul," Goestenkors said. "That was the key because we had to take her out, and I think the rest of the team showed a lot of confidence and a lot of poise to play through that."
Staying with the adaptation theme, Duke's coach also pointed out the maturation of Orr's game.
"Sometimes in the past she's tried to take the whole team on her shoulders," Goestenkors said. "[Tonight] she got the ball into Tye or into Payton, she let Peppi drive to the basket, so I think it was key that she let some other people do some things around her too."
Of course, there are some facets of Orr's game that Goestenkors doesn't want to change. The senior's three-pointer with 3:09 left was described as a backbreaker by her coach, and gave Duke a lead that would finally hold up.
The Blue Devils' ability to adapt individually and as a team raised their play to the level necessary to knock off one of the top teams in the country. Heading into the second half of the conference schedule, the challenge will be how to keep it there.
"I felt like we came out and played much better in the second half," Goestenkors said. "Down the stretch, with four minutes to play... I felt like we stepped it up another notch. To be successful... I feel like we need to play with that intensity, that emotion and that much confidence the rest of the way."
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