By: Patricia Lee
Final: Duke 66, SDSU 58
A missed three-point jumper by SDSU concludes the game, bringing Duke into the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils will be playing Baylor on Monday night at 7pm EST at FedEx Forum. Duke shot 41% in two-point field goals versus SDSU's 38%, but trailed in three-pointers and free-throws by 14% and 9%, respectively. Top scorers of the game were Jasmine Thomas (29), Joy Cheek (14), and Krystal Thomas (8).
7.2 seconds: Duke 66, SDSU 57
With one minute remaining, the Aztecs continue fouling the Blue Devils (Krystal Thomas & Bridgette Mitchell each make 1 of 2 free throws) and make a two-point jumper and a three-pointer. The Blue Devils seem to be losing momentum and allow SDSU to make two shots while missing 50% of their free throws in the last minute.
1:00 Second Half: Duke 64, SDSU 48
The Blue Devils strong presence in the second half are led by Jasmine Thomas (27), Joy Cheek (14), Krystal Thomas (7) with assists from Bridgette Mitchell. Two made free throws from Cheek and a layup from Jasmine Thomas bring the Devils up by 16. With the shot clock going down, SDSU is pushing harder on the defense.
3:17 Second Half: Duke 60, SDSU 45
A two-point jumper by Paris Johnson brings the two teams closer in score, but the Blue Devils are quick to retaliate with a layup from Joy Cheek. Jene Morris gets the defensive rebound and rushes down the court for what seems like either a layup or a dunk right near the basket but seems to lose footing and passes the ball over to Paris Johnson, who makes a two point layup and a free throw after a foul from Allison Vernerey. Following a steal by Bridgette Mitchell, Jasmine Thomas makes a two-point layup, bringing Duke back up by 15.
8:49 Second Half: Duke 52, SDSU 37
Following four free throws made by Jasmine Thomas and two by Krystal Thomas, Duke shoots into the lead by 17. With strong defensive play by the Blue Devils and quick movement on the offensive end, Duke is showing that it is worthy of being the No. 2 seed.
11:53 Second Half: Duke 46, SDSU 36
Two points from Joy Cheek brings Duke into a 10-0 streak in the second half. SDSU breaks Duke's streak with a two-point jumper from Quenese Davis. Duke gets back into scoring with a two-point layup from Allison Vernerey. Duke has substituted many of its players and seems to have a solid rotation of 7 girls.
16:07 Second Half: Duke 41, SDSU 34
Coming off strong from halftime, Duke is 8-0, forcing the Aztecs to take a time-out. Jasmine Thomas contributed 3 points to the score with two free throws and a two-point jumper. Krystal Thomas makes one of two free throws, bringing the Blue devils to their biggest lead--8 points-- of the game by far. Duke gets two of its own defensive rebounds before turning the ball over to SDSU.
Halftime: Duke 35, SDSU 34
With 1:23 left in the game, Duke is down 31-32 after a foul on Joy Cheek & two made free throws from Jene Morris. With 1:05 left, Jasmine Thomas makes a two-point jumper. Twenty seconds later, Joy Cheek gets a defensive rebound from a missed layup by Paris Johnson but misses a two-point layup for Duke, keeping the score at 33-32, Duke. Keturah Jackson fouls Quenese Davis with 19 seconds left, and Duke is back down 33-34 after two made free-throws from SDSU. Duke’s Keturah Jackson manages to score a two-point layup with 14 seconds left in the half to end with a one-point lead, 35-34. Quenese Davis misses a two-point jumper to keep the Blue Devils in the lead.
The game so far has been characterized by many fouls on Duke’s end (10 personal fouls to SDSU’s 4) and time-outs every thirty seconds to an hour. SDSU leads Duke in rebounding 15-11, as well as shooting percentage in free-throws and 3-pointers. Duke is 3% higher (48.4% to 45.8%) in two-point field goals, and that may be the reason the Blue Devils are still in the lead.
6:53 - First Half; Duke 21, SDSU 19
The game has been kept to minimal shooting with steals and turnovers from both teams and constant time-outs on both sides of the court. Both teams have been shooting fairly well, with SDSU at 41% from the field and Duke with 45% on the field. Duke’s biggest lead in the game so far was for about 30 seconds at 7:53 at 21-16.
2:58 - First Half; Duke 29, SDSU 26
In a quick span of two and a half minutes, both teams have added 4 points to their score. Duke is being lead by Keturah Jackson (who scored one free throw and two layups) and Jasmine Thomas (who sank a 3-pointer) in the last 2 minutes. SDSU is being lead by Jere Morris and Paris Johnson (2 points apiece). The game seems to not be able to continue without either a time-out or a foul every thirty seconds.
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