FINAL: Duke 48, Baylor 51
Another missed three-point jumper by Cheek, and Baylor takes possession with 3 seconds left. The Bears will advance to the Final Four and Duke is upset in the Tournament for the second consecutive year.
11.5 seconds, Second Half: Duke 48, Baylor 51
25.5 seconds: Griner makes a two-point tip shot to pull Baylor into the lead, 48-49. A foul is charged to Mitchell, and Baylor makes its next two shots to bring it ahead by 3. A missed three-point shot by Cheek and a jump ball is called (Duke possession) at 11.5.
1:00 Second Half: Duke 48, Baylor 47
Krystal Thomas is charged with another personal foul, her 5th, and is replaced by Mitchell. Baylor makes its two free throws. Jones makes a two-point layup, bringing the game within 1 point with 2:08 left to go.
3:00 Second Half: Duke 48, Baylor 43
Christmas gains a foul and Baylor makes two for two from the free throw line. Krystal Thomas is fouled but misses the free throw, and the rebound is caught by Baylor, who rushes to the basket to make an easy layup. Jasmine Thomas makes two free throws, and Krystal Thomas fouls again, allowing Griner to make one free throw to reduce Duke's lead. A defensive rebound is caught by Christmas, and a timeout is called on the court.
4:40 Second Half: Duke 46, Baylor 38
Mitchell sinks a two-point jumper, and Baylor turns over the ball then is charged with a foul. Cheek scores a three-pointer and is all-smiles. An instant replay was called by the referees to change their call from a two-point jumper to a three-pointer. A turnover from Jones gives the Blue Devils another shooting opportunity, but they miss, and Baylor obtains a defensive rebound. A foul is called on Krystal Thomas, and the Lady Bears make one of two shots. Thomas makes another two-point layup from the paint to widen Duke's lead.
7:41 Second Half: Duke 39, Baylor 35
The crowd is exploding on both ends, mostly with angry Duke fans and excited Baylor fans. Griner is fouled by Krystal Thomas and proceeds to miss her next two free throws. Griner gets another foul and puts Jasmine Thomas on the line to make two easy free throws, bringing Duke back up by 4. Griner is proving to be an inconsistent shooter, making most of her shots from the paint, right near the basket, and missing most outside of the paint.
9:23 Second Half: Duke 37, Baylor 35
Duke is employing a slight full-court press with all players but one at the back court. A 2-3 zone is proving ineffective, as it leaves Griner positioned to make easy tip-shots. A foul is called on Thomas, Duke's 4th. A foul is then called on Griner (Baylor's 4th), as Christmas makes two free-throws to bring Duke back up by 4. Madden quickly retaliates with a two-point layup to bring the score back within 2.
11:52 Second Half: Duke 35, Baylor 28
Baylor's Jordan Madden quickly follows up Duke's play with a three-pointer. After a defensive rebound by Griffin, the Lady Bears rush to the offense, where Jordan Madden misses a three. Griner easily grabs the defensive rebound with one hand, something the Blue Devils have been battling all game--Griner's height and strength.
13:33 Second Half: Duke 35, Baylor 25
Cheek manages to have two turnovers within 25 seconds (15:33 and 15:09), both of which are picked up by junior Melissa Jones, who makes a two-point layup and is fouled by Duke's Allison Vernerey. The Blue Devils regain possession of the ball, and Vernerey goes for a two-point jumper but gets blocked by Griner. Mitchell manages to grab the ball, however, before she is fouled. Baylor scores two before Keturah Jackson makes a two-point jumper to bring lead back up by 10.
17:44 Second Half: Duke 32, Baylor 23
With one second into the second half, Thomas makes a two-point jumper to further Duke's lead. Griner comes off the court for the first time in the game, and Kelli Griffin makes a two-point jumper for Baylor. Cheek scores two from the paint and gets fouled in the process but misses the consequent free throw. Thomas scores another two to bring the Blue Devils into a 9-point lead.
Halftime: Duke 26, Baylor 21
With Duke more attentive on rebounding, the Blue Devils are getting many more opportunities to shoot. Christmas is fouled on the way to the net and makes both free throws to bring the Blue Devils up 22-21. After failed rebounding on Baylor's end, a free ball is called, and Duke takes possession to add another layup by Christmas, who is fouled and proceeds to make her next two free throws, propelling the Blue Devils into a 5-point lead--their biggest all game--before halftime. Christmas and Thomas are tied for Duke's leading scorer at 8 points apiece. Baylor's Griner has 10 points.
3:17 First Half: Duke 18, Baylor 17
The fans are still yelling about calls from the referee, as it seems that they are only calling fouls on Duke and not Baylor. A turnover by Griner gives Duke possession of the ball, and Cheek rushes into the paint before being fouled by Griner and is awarded with two free throws (amidst strong Duke cheers and loud boo's from Baylor) to bring Duke up by 3. Griner quickly proceeds to make a two-point tip shot, bringing the score difference back to 1.
5:41 First Half: Duke 16, Baylor 15
Griner seems unstoppable. With two Blue Devils blocking her from inside the paint, she easily reaches over them to score an easy two points. Two more Duke baskets bring the Blue Devils into the lead. Duke is employing a 2-3 zone which seems to be slightly effective at stopping Baylor from making shots. McCallie made hand motions to the referee indicate that a foul should have been charged to Baylor.
7:54 First Half: Duke 12, Baylor 13
Duke is playing much better on defense and stopping the Lady Bears from taking open shots. Duke seems revitalized with a three-pointer from Thomas and a layup from Cheek. Their shooting percentage from the field is still low, at 23% for two-pointers (to Baylor's 25%) and 1/4 (to Baylor's 0/4) for threes. The Blue Devils seemed to have slowed their accumulation of fouls and have only added one in the last 3 minutes.
10:22 First Half: Duke 7, Baylor 11
The Blue Devils attempt to stop Baylor from scoring by putting two players on Griner, but the plan fails to work, as it leaves freshman Shanay Washington open to make an easy layup. Senior Bridgette Mitchell rejuvenates the Blue Devils with a two-point jumper just inside of the three-point line. However, the short-lived enthusiasm is broken as Bridgette obtains a foul, Duke's 5th (to Baylor's 1). McCallie calls a timeout after the foul, and Duke fans in the stand are shouting foul play, and Thomas looks angry, as well.
12:54 First Half: Duke 5, Baylor 7
Another Lady Bear puts two points on the board, junior Kelli Griffin. Duke promptly retaliates with two-point layups from both Karima Christmas and Allison Vernerey, followed by a steal from Joy Cheek.
15:00 First Half: Duke: 1, Baylor 5
The Blue Devils are missing their shots and have only one point from a free throw by Jasmine Thomas. They are not getting many of their offensive rebounds and seem to have trouble blocking Griner, who boasts all of Baylor's five points. A timeout is called by Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie, who pulls aside Thomas. Duke is shooting 0/9 on two-point field goals, 0/2 on three-pointers, and 1/2 on free throws.
18:00 First Half: Duke 0, Baylor 3
Griner starts off strong, driving into the paint for an easy two-point layup, bringing the Lady Bears up to an immediate lead. Baylor has come off strong with offensive rebounding and easy shooting opportunities. Griner was fouled by senior Krystal Thomas and made 1 of 2 free throws.
Pregame
No. 2 Duke's starting line-up is seniors joy Cheek, Bridgette Mitchell, Keturah Jackson and juniors Krystal Thomas and Jasmine Thomas. No. 4 Baylor is starting with senior Morghan Medlock, juniors Melissa Jones and Kelli Griffin and freshmen Shanay Washington and Brittney Griner. The Blue Devils are looking to have tighter defense in the game and avoid allowing the Lady Bears to take open shots. One thing Duke must look out for is 6-foot-8 Griner in the center. With 2 minutes until tip-ff, the stadium is about 1/4 full, and 70% are Baylor fans, 20% are Tennessee fans, & 10% are Duke fans.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.