With the Blue Devils’ lead diminishing to four points with the second half just underway, Duke caught fire and went on a 28-9 run, capped off by a dazzling reverse layup by Monique Currie.
N.C. State (11-6, 2-3) started the game with a Khadijah Whittington layup, but it would not lead again as Duke (18-0, 6-0) pulled away to defeat the Wolfpack 77-57 at Cameron Indoor Stadium Thursday night.
After trailing 39-23 late in the first half, State went on a 16-4 run that spanned from the end of the first half into the second half to pull the score to 43-39.
State’s scoring run, however, came to an abrupt stop.
“We made the run, and we had it to four,” coach Kay Yow said. “But it’s sort of been this way all season. Right at the point that we cut it, we have an opportunity to play great defense, have an opportunity to get the ball, and that’s when we have the breakdown.”
Yow said the team talked about the run, but it was unable to capitalize on Duke’s mistakes.
“We had a timeout right at that time,” Yow said. “We talked about that first four minutes and what we had done-I just don’t think everybody on the floor was recognizing time and score.”
The Devils went on to score seven straight and 28 of the next 38 points.
Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said the Devils needed to resort to an alternate game plan to take back the momentum.
“We had to calm down and figure out what was going to work for us,” Goestenkors said. “So we started to work it inside and use our penetration-then we went on our run.”
According to Yow, inconsistent guard play led to a lot of the Pack’s problems. Tiffany McCollins, Marquetta Dickens and Ashley Key had 12 of the team’s 19 turnovers.
With the Devils’ lead dwindling down, the turnovers switched the momentum and put the game out of reach for the Pack.
“It doesn’t take many [turnovers] because in a matter of a minute, you are back down by 12,” Yow said.
Early in the game, Khadijah Whittington and Tiffany Stansbury were forced to sit out when they each received their second foul, not even eight minutes into the game.
“KD and Tiff, with them getting in foul trouble, we’ve talked about it before,” senior guard Billie McDowell said. “We, as a team, we feel that it affected us because we can’t go as aggressive as they can.”
Yow was forced to play 6-foot-7 center Gillian Goring. Yow said having her in the game for an extended period without rest is not the ideal situation.
“Tiff and KD getting in foul trouble, that does hurt us,” Yow said. “It’s a much better rotation with [Goring] still coming in, but just rotating the three of them, so that they can get a break.”
Goring, however, played a total of 17 minutes, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
“That’s the best I’ve seen her play,” Goestenkors said. “That’s the most aggressive I’ve seen her play and I think that she did a tremendous job for them with the other two post players in foul trouble.”
Goring said in order for her team to stay in the game, she needed a good performance.
“It was just in my mind that I was going to go out there and work as hard as I can to make sure we stay in this game or win the game,” Goring said.
The only other player to score in double figures for the Pack was Billie McDowell. She scored a team high 14 points to go along with two assists and two steals.
McDowell, who posted 11 first half points, was held to only one field goal in the second half.
“I tried to not let her touch the ball,” Duke guard Lindsey Harding said. “I was trying to follow her around and deny her the ball. The only pass that was open was the backdoor, and they didn’t look for that.”
Yow said effort was not the reason for the loss.
“Everybody was playing hard,” Yow said. “It’s not that they didn’t give an effort, they did. I’m proud of them for the effort that they gave-but I think at times that it was a lot of activity with no accomplishment.”
