Undefeated record on the line again this weekend

Allison Vernerey, who scored 15 in Duke’s last game, will look for a similar performance this weekend.
Allison Vernerey, who scored 15 in Duke’s last game, will look for a similar performance this weekend.

Duke, hoping to keep its undefeated record intact, faces off against a Georgia Tech squad still unbeaten in the ACC tonight. It could be one for the record books—a victory will mark the 100th win for head coach Joanne P. McCallie in her four years at Duke.

The Blue Devils (17-0, 3-0 in the ACC) meet the Yellow Jackets (16-4, 4-0) in Cameron Indoor Stadium after two hard-fought away wins against conference rivals No. 22 Florida State and Virginia Tech. The road wins were made all the more impressive by the strength of the ACC this season. Five of the 12 teams in the conference are ranked in the AP Top 25 poll.

“It is early, but I think ACC women’s basketball this year is the best it’s been in a long time,” McCallie said. “I’m thrilled we played the schedule we did because it’s prepared us quite nicely for what we face night in, night out in the league.”

No. 3 Duke has used those preparation games to its advantage, particularly in its victory over Florida State last week. First-year players were a huge part of the team’s success, but senior Jasmine Thomas still led the squad with 22 points.

The last game against Virginia Tech, however, hosted the lethargic side of the Blue Devils. The same players were lacking the energy and level of intensity shown in the Florida State win and required to dominate for the majority of the game.

“In our eyes, Virginia Tech was a loss,” McCallie said. “We rate things differently than media or outcome. I almost threw up after that game. That was a nauseating life experience.”

With such a young team, Duke has had difficulty keeping consistent energy levels and focus. Moving into the match against the Yellow Jackets, McCallie calls for more attention to the team playing its own game and preparing for its specific opponents.

Georgia Tech is fresh off another conference win over Wake Forest, when freshman Tyaunna Marshall scored 17 points. The Yellow Jackets are also riding a 13-game winning streak, including a victory over then-No. 8 North Carolina. McCallie has led the Blue Devils in their last four victories over the Yellow Jackets. However, recent games have shown not to underestimate the opponent.

“This is the best Georgia Tech team that I’ve coached against, by far,” McCallie said.

So long as veteran seniors like Jasmine Thomas and Krystal Thomas are able to penetrate the Yellow Jacket’s notorious press defense and contain stars like Marshall, Duke should be on track to continue its undefeated record and to attain the level of consistency needed to evolve into an elite team.

After taking on the Yellow Jackets tonight, the Blue Devils face N.C. State (9-9, 1-3) on the road Sunday at 5 p.m.

NOTES: Duke is one of only two undefeated teams in the nation—along with Florida Gulf Coast University—so some have come to question its standings in the polls. McCallie, though, doesn’t put much stock into the Blue Devils’ ranking and is more focused on improving her team.

“We can play a lot better than what we’ve been playing and we know it, and it bothers us,” McCallie said.

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