PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The weather outside was frightful, but the Blue Devils didn't let the sub-freezing temperatures or several inches of snow stop them from staying hot on the basketball court.
No. 6 Duke (11-1) survived a stiff test from Providence Wednesday, but pulled away at the end to win 66-49 at Mullaney Gymnasium. It was the Blue Devils' ninth straight win.
Duke used an early 19-0 run to jump out to a comfortable 15-point lead, but that comfort did not last long.
The Friars' pressure defense and timely 3-pointers allowed them to hang around in the first half, and eventually cut the lead to 42-41 with 11 minutes remaining in the game on a 3-pointer by Chandler McCabe.
Providence (6-6) never could get over the hump, however, as Chante Black, who finished with 17 points, and Abby Waner, who tallied 13, hit big shots down the stretch for the Blue Devils. Duke ended the game with a 24-8 run to seal the win.
The Blue Devils faced a surprisingly hostile crowd. The 407 people who braved the New England snowstorm made their voices heard in the second half, especially after two nifty behind-the-back passes by Brittany Dorsey resulted in layups for the Friars and cut into Duke's second half lead.
Sloppy play haunted both teams as they combined for 51 turnovers. Duke forced 29 Providence turnovers, including eight by Mi-Khida Hankins.
"You can't have 29 turnovers," Providence head coach Phil Seymore said. "You can't win basketball games like that."
Providence was able to hang around despite its 29 turnovers because of its inside rebounding. The Friars outrebounded the Blue Devils, 50-42, and beat Duke in second-chance points, 13-0.
"I saw this team on film, and I was very concerned about their rebounding, and they proved out," Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie said.
The Blue Devils look to continue their hot streak in Cameron Indoor Stadium Jan. 5 against Temple.
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