Arianna Roberson had 15 factors and 4 blocked photographs whereas No. 4 Duke took management after halftime to beat Inexperienced Bay 76-60 in Tuesday night time’s opener for each groups.
Riley Nelson additionally scored 15 for the Blue Devils, the preseason favourite to win a 3rd straight Atlantic Coast Convention title. Duke performed with out preseason all-ACC choose Toby Fournier, with coach Kara Lawson saying afterward that the 6-foot-2 ahead who was final yr’s main scorer (17.3) and rebounder (7.9) is coping with a lower-leg damage. Lawson mentioned she hopes Fournier is again quickly however mentioned there isn’t a particular timetable but.
Duke had a tussle on its arms within the first half, main simply 33-31 at halftime in opposition to the preseason choose to win the Horizon League title for a fourth straight yr.
However the Blue Devils did a greater job asserting themselves inside after halftime, going from managing zero factors within the paint within the second quarter to scoring 16 within the third. Throw in a defensive effort that held the Phoenix with out a basket for the primary six-plus minutes of the interval, and the Blue Devils had been capable of stretch out their margin to 49-37 on the 4:15 mark after layups from Jordan Wooden and Nelson.
The Blue Devils would stretch that result in 16 by late within the interval on a three-point play by Wooden, then didn’t let the Phoenix get nearer than seven once more early within the fourth quarter.
Duke shot 45.3% from the sector and completed with a 44-31 rebounding benefit that led to 19 second-chance factors. The Blue Devils had 4 gamers attain double figures, together with Texas switch Aaliyah Crump going for 11 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in her Duke debut.
Maddy Skorupski completed with 16 factors and 6 rebounds to guide Inexperienced Bay, whereas Kristina Ouimette added 14. However the Phoenix struggled after halftime, taking pictures simply 6 of 27 (22.2%) whereas hanging round largely by making 12 of 14 free throws within the third quarter to hold the second-half offensive load.
Up subsequent
Inexperienced Bay: Loyola Chicago visits the Phoenix in Saturday’s house opener.
Duke: The Blue Devils face North Texas on Sunday in San Antonio.