That's why she didn't exactly know how to play defense went she got to Duke. Or why during her freshman year, it was common to see Waner with her hands up calling for the ball.

But now, Waner is a junior. The points don't come as easy, but her game has expanded to compensate.

Waner and her No. 3 seed Blue Devils (25-9) face No. 2 seed Texas A&M in the Oklahoma City Regional semifinals today.

"This team, whatever they need out of me, that's what I'm willing to give," Waner said. "If that's more of a point guard role, getting people the ball where they're going to be successful, then I'm more than willing to do that.

"That's not taking away from the fact that it would be nice to start hitting some shots."

Waner averages 10.1 points, down from last season, when she led Duke with a 14.1 average.

There are a host of reasons why Waner's scoring has dropped.

Under Gail Goestenkors, Duke's defense kept Waner near the top of the key, allowing her to cheat out and convert turnovers into quick layups.

Waner is not in the same spot in Joanne P. McCallie's matchup zone, although Waner creates roughly that same number of steals a game. She leads Duke with 76 steals.

One of the biggest differences is how much Waner has to run the point. Goestenkors used Waner a third or fourth option at the point, but McCallie uses her there frequently.

Waner leads Duke with 3.9 assists per game -- McCallie says Waner is one of the best passers she's seen -- and she oftens run the offense even if freshman point guard Jasmine Thomas is on the court.

"Abby's had a tremendous [year] in so many ways," McCallie said between Duke's first- and second-round games. "But unfortunately, people do want to define her only by shooting, and that's not something I believe in at all for Abby. ...

"To me, by the natural graduation of Alison Bales and Lindsey Harding, people [have] to grow into roles. I would say no matter who's coaching, whether it's Joanne or Sally, it's an evolutionary process that has to occur. ... Abby's had to step in and shoot off the dribble and not just shoot off the pass."

Although on the court, Waner's role didn't start changing until the beginning of the season, Waner's off-the-court role started to change the minute Goestenkors decided to go to Texas.

Waner was close to her coach, but she put on a resolute public face. She and her sister, Emily, called the incoming freshmen and kept them up to date on the coaching search. The Waners met with the coaching candidates and behind-the-scenes, Abby pushed Duke to make sure the team's voice was heard.

"Once Coach G left, we were kind of thrown to the wind," Waner said. "We didn't have an authoritative figure. I just wanted that to make sure that our team knew it's not about -- it's not ultimately about -- who's on the sidelines. It's about us. We're Duke."

Emily Waner played 18 games for Duke before leaving the team. Despite her sister's departure, Abby Waner has kept going. The season hasn't been an easy one for her with all of the changes, but that really isn't going to stop her.

It's like her shooting. At least once a game, Waner takes some crazy 3 from a spot that seems way too deep. Sometimes they clang out or don't even touch the rims. Some days, they go in.

Waner jokes she has never met a long shot she didn't like, and actually feels more comfortable the farther out she is -- she is more focused.

While the shot isn't falling quite like it had, Waner isn't going to blame anyone.

"I'm never going to going to use a new system or a new coaching staff as an excuse for my shooting," Waner said. "It comes down to me, and I'm perfectly comfortable with my shot, so I think it just comes down to my head, making sure I'm in the right place when I get the ball and I'm in the game. I'm not going to use anything as an excuse."