While most Duke students were on winter break, the top-ranked women's basketball team (13-0, 1-0 in the ACC) could have taken a break too and probably run the table. Instead, the Blue Devils played some of their best basketball of the season and dismantled six opponents by a total of 255 points. That amounts to an average margin of victory of 42.5.
"We've been playing really, really well," head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "Our focus has been very good."
After blowing out Charleston Southern and Florida International in Cameron Indoor Stadium shortly after exams, the Blue Devils traveled to and walloped Tulsa. Then, Duke dominated Detriot-Mercy and Iowa State in the South Padre Island Shootout. Finally, Duke overcame and early challenge from Clemson before winning comfortably Monday.
Duke 69, Clemson 53
For just the second time all season the Blue Devils trailed at halftime, but Alana Beard scored 16 of her game-high 26 points in the second half as Duke surged to a 69-53 victory over Clemson (9-4, 1-1).
Duke hit less than 27 percent of its shots in the first half and trailed 31-28 at the break. Clemson held its last lead at 33-32 with 17 minutes left to play in the game. At that point, Vicki Krapohl knocked down a three-pointer and Duke did not trail again.
"We didn't play our best basketball," said Beard, who leads the team in scoring with 23.7 points per game. "It took us 20 minutes to adjust to their play, and in order to be a great team, you can't take those 20 minutes."
In addition to her 26 points, the junior pulled down a team-leading 13 rebounds, including seven on offense. Iciss Tillis added 19 points and eight rebounds and freshman Mistie Bass scored 10.
Duke was rusty after a week's break, Goestenkors said. Nevertheless, the Blue Devils emerged with a 16-point victory, which in almost any other context would constitute a comfortable win. But compared to Duke's other games, it was a nail-biter.
"We're not going to blow out every team," Tillis said. "We need close games like that."
Duke 88, Iowa State 59
Duke rolled to an easy victory in the South Padre Island Shootout against Iowa State (4-5) Dec. 29.
The Blue Devils scored the game's first seven points and twenty of the first twenty-seven. Duke held a 53-28 halftime lead.
The Blue Devils performed before a crowd of 2,000 that exceeded the capacity of the South Padre Island Convention Center.
Duke put five scorers in double figures: Beard led the team with 2t points, in addition to seven rebounds and four blocks; Tillis added 14; Sheana Mosch and Jessica Foley hit for 11; and Michele Matyasovsky contributed 10.
Duke out-rebounded the Cyclones 48-32 and held them to just 38.6 percent shooting.
Iowa State was led by Lindsey Wilson who scored 20, but turned the ball over eight times.
Duke 92, Detroit-Mercy 52
The Blue Devils forced 30 turnovers and turned the ball over just nine times in a 92-52 rout of Detroit-Mercy (2-7) in the opening game of the South Padre Island Shootout Dec. 27.
Goestenkors, however, was not content with the Blue Devils' performance.
"Overall, I was pleased to win but I was not pleased with our overall effort especially on the defensive end of the floor," she said. "We have a lot of things to improve on which is good because we will get better."
Specifically, Goestenkors was upset with the team's 49.2 percent shooting, which was less than two percentage points better than Detroit's.
Beard led the team with 27 points. Foley chipped in 14 off the bench and Bass added 10.
Duke 90, Tulsa 36
Iciss Tillis celebrated her return to her hometown with 19 points, as Duke handed Tulsa (4-6) its worst loss in school history Dec. 21.
The Hurricanes could not muster a shot in the game's first four minutes. They turned the ball over 35 times and shot only 27.9 percent from the field. Tulsa erred to end its first eight possessions.
Although the game was Tillis' homecoming, Beard stole the show with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals. Matyasovsky scored 13 and Mosch 11.
Allison Curtin led Tulsa with 16 points, but she also turned the ball over 13 times.
Duke 106, Florida International 58
Duke had six players in double figures in a 106-58 trouncing of Florida International (6-3) Dec. 18.
"We were ready for a challenge," said Beard, who along with Tillis led Duke with 21 points. "Not that the others teams weren't a challenge, but we just knew that FIU played [No. 2] LSU to 12 points. We were just ready for this game."
Duke 106, Charleston Southern 38
The Blue Devils emerged from finals Dec. 16 to obliterate Charleston Southern (4-3) 106-38.
Beard scored 24 and secured six of Duke's 25 steals. As a team, Duke forced 37 turnovers and held Charleston Southern to 31.4 percent shooting.
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