A team may win in College Park. That same team may win in Charlottesville. But, as the women's basketball team showed last night, a win in Cameron Indoor Stadium is just not allowed.
Led by an inspired performance from sophomore Lauren Rice, who scored 23 points in 20 minutes of action, the No. 19 Blue Devils dismissed the Hungarian National Team by a score of 99-82 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. In doing so, they knocked off a squad that had already beaten Duke's Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Maryland and No. 13 Virginia.
"We shot the ball extremely well, and we beat a very good team," coach Gail Goestenkors said.
The game started with Duke playing much the same way as it did Friday night versus Russia-Dynamo. The game was fast-paced throughout with Hungary opening an early 18-10 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. They extended that lead to 21-12 minutes later, and it appeared that Hungary might put Duke away early.
At this point, freshman Georgia Schweitzer, who scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds, entered the game. Duke soon pulled within two points at 23-21 on a jump shot by the freshman. Hungary responded with a seven-point run of its own with some easy fast break points and held a nine point lead once again at 30-21.
With 7:40 remaining in the first half and a six-point deficit, the Blue Devils went on a 16-0 run, which included three consecutive three-pointers by Schweitzer, Rice and sophomore Peppi Browne, to take a 40-32 lead-their largest of the game to that point.
"I thought we did a much better job in the latter part of the first half when we went with a smaller line-up and really started to pressure the ball," Goestenkors said. "I think we caused them some problems, and then we got the momentum and never really gave that momentum up."
Hungary's leading scorer, Judit Balogh, provided some fireworks late in the first half when she proceeded to slam the ball down after being called for traveling. Balogh, who was held to just 11 points, 19 below her average, picked up four fouls in the first half and did not step on the court for the second. Duke converted the two free throws from the technical, and junior Naz Medhanie finished off the possession with a three-pointer from the corner. Hungary tightened the score, but Duke held a 52-43 lead at the half.
Hungary started the second half with a slight run and pulled within 58-54 at the 15:08 mark, but that is as close as the score would get. Duke answered this "slight" run by Hungary with a huge spurt of its own. A 22-4 burst by the Blue Devils, including back to back three-pointers by Rice from the top of the key, put them in control for good at 80-58.
"I've been hitting in practice," Rice said. "Coach has been after me to shoot... As soon as I hit one jumper and a second, Payton was open for three straight possessions. It's a great inside-outside game."
Hungary's only answer to Duke in the second half came from Ildiko Fabian. With Duke ahead 85-60, she turned to pass and the ball slipped from her hands off the glass and into the basket for two of her 16 points. Duke opened up its largest lead of the game at 88-62 on a three pointer by Medhanie. Late in the game, sophomore Juanita Hepburn stepped on the floor for her first action as a Blue Devil and proceeded to put a short hook shot through the net to give Duke a 97-72 lead.
The Blue Devils were pleasantly surprised by the solid games from freshmen Schweitzer and Rochelle Parent. Schweitzer gave Duke a spark early in the first half with some nice jump shots and plenty of hustle, while Parent came off the bench for seven points.
"I thought Georgia Schweitzer did a great job," Goestenkors said. "She has a lot of composure for a freshman."
But Rice was the player that stole the show for the Blue Devils. She converted six of nine shots from the field and seven of seven from the free throw line. She also added a tremendous spark in the second half by drawing fouls and causing turnovers.
"Lauren's been playing like that in practice every day," Goestenkors said. "We've been waiting for her to show it in the exhibition. The last exhibition she was tentative, and we talked to her a little bit about the fact that all she had to do was play in the games like she played in practice."
Duke will have one more week to get ready for its first regular season game against UNC-Greensboro Wednesday in Cameron at 7 p.m.
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