A group of middle school students flocked toward junior center Alison Bales and sophomore forward Laura Kurz outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium Wednesday afternoon. They eagerly waved posters, pictures and pieces of paper in their outstretched hands as the two towering posts gladly signed them.
Even though the Blue Devils fell just short of their ultimate goal of a National Championship this season, the jubilant scene outside Cameron was a sign that the women's basketball program was establishing a legacy at Duke and gaining the popularity it deserves.
"We're in the process of building a great tradition here at Duke," head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "It's an exciting time to be a part of the program. We haven't won the National Championship yet, but whenever you get the national T.V. exposure that accompanies going to a Final Four and a championship game, it is good for the program because so many general fans get to know Duke women's basketball."
On Jan. 23, Cameron sold out for the fifth time in school history as the Blue Devils trounced then-No.1 ranked Tennessee, 75-53. Six days later, the fan support was still high as Cameron sold out again for the second straight game in which Duke suffered a 74-70 loss to North Carolina.
The draw of Tennessee, a powerhouse women's basketball program, and the Tar Heels, Duke's deep-seeded rival, helped spurn crowd attendance. But the Blue Devils consistent play and steady position atop the polls this season also contributed to the increased fan attendance.
Both the team and the fans excitedly anticipated the beginning of the 2005-2006 season as Duke returned all of its starters.
From the outset, the Blue Devils consistently wiped out non-ACC opponents by at least 30 points. When conference play began, Duke showed few signs of wearing down as it handily defeated both N.C. State and Maryland.
The highlight of the regular season was when the Blue Devils rolled over the Volunteers, a program that has sustained the national popularity that Duke hopes to attain.
As Duke climbed to the top of the polls, dreams of the program's elusive first National Championship were becoming a conceivable reality. The Blue Devils, however, suffered a set-back when they lost two out of their last three games before the NCAA Tournament to North Carolina and Maryland. But like any team with character, the Blue Devils rebounded from the losses and rejuvenated themselves for a National Championship run.
"We had some tough losses against great competition," Goestenkors said. "What I'm most proud of is the character we displayed in those tough losses at the end of the season. That was tough to take, but the players responded and really came together. Anytime you go through diversity, that's when you really find out the character of your team."
Duke steamrolled through its first few opponents in the NCAA Tournament, and escaped from a Connecticut comeback, 63-61, in the Elite Eight. After handling LSU, 64-45, in the semifinals, the Blue Devils advanced to the title game for the first time since 1999, and a wave of excitement swirled around Duke's campus.
With just six seconds remaining, fans, players and coaches all thought the Blue Devils were going to capture their first NCAA Championship. Their dream, however, was dashed when Maryland guard Kristi Toliver buried a three-pointer over 6-foot-7 Bales to send the game into overtime, during which Duke eventually lost, 78-75.
Although no benches were burned and no banner was hung, the season proved valuable for the women's basketball program as it continued to gain national recognition and build upon its basketball tradition.
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