Duke continues to roll, knocks off No. 8 N.C. State in Reynolds
There would be no saving grace this time for N.C. State.
Duke, the hottest team in the ACC, led from start to finish and won its sixth game in a row, knocking off the No. 8 Wolfpack, 70-65, Monday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Blue Devils (17-10, 11-5) last lost to N.C. State earlier this month in Durham. That game came down to the fourth quarter, where Wolfpack guard Grace Hunter scored nine points late in the game to help N.C. State escape with a win.
The Blue Devils would have none of it this time. Duke rolled into Raleigh with revenge on the brain and it showed right from the tip. The Blue Devils came out of the gates on fire, and even though the Wolfpack (23-4, 12-4) made it close at times, they couldn’t get out of their own way, turning the ball over too much and not being able to close the gap several times in the second half.
“I loved our poise and composure down the stretch,” Duke coach Joanne McCallie said. “We got better tonight, which is what we want to do. We can enjoy tonight and just move onto the next (game).”
The Blue Devils, at one time barely above .500, have now won 10 of their last 12 games, including eight of their last nine.
“I think what you are seeing right now is how we are as a team,” Duke guard Haley Gorecki said. “We knew our potential as a team. Everything is clicking, everyone is doing their job, their role. Just the little things, everything is going in the right direction.”
N.C. State pulled to within two (50-48) after a 3 from Aislinn Konig, but the Blue Devils had an answer, like they had most of the night. This time it was forward Onome Akinbode-James, who hit a long two to push the lead to four. After a missed shot from the Wolfpack, Gorecki connected on an old-fashioned three-point play, making it 55-48 with 6:54 remaining.
The only thing determined in the first half was that both teams had plenty of gas in the tank for runs. Duke started the game quick, going up 7-0.
“Duke came in here and really got after us,” Wolfpack coach Wes Moore said. “From the tip they were ready to play. I’ll take the blame on a lot of things, but at some point they have to be accountable. We have to do a better job preparing for games, knowing the scout, going out and executing.”
The Wolfpack countered to end the first quarter with five straight, tying the game at 14 heading into the second. Duke started the second quarter with an 11-2 run and just when it looked like the Blue Devils were ready to blow the doors off the Pack, N.C. State scored six unanswered to pull to within one, 31-30, at the break.
Duke led by as many as 11 (27-16) in the second quarter, but went 1 of 6 from the floor to end the half.
Gorecki was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 17 of her team-high 24 points after the break. Akinbode-James finished with 12 points, her first time scoring in double digits in ACC play.
How big was the win for Duke? It was the first time the Blue Devils have beaten a top 10 team since February of 2018. It was their first road win over a top 10 team since 2015.
Duke snapped a three-game losing streak to the Wolfpack.
AND ONE
The 24 points by Gorecki meant the senior scored at least 20 points for the 21st time in the last two seasons, which leads the ACC.
PERSONAL FOUL
In the third quarter, N.C. State only scored 13 points. Ten of those points came from Elissa Cunane. Jada Boyd was the only other Wolfpack player to score in the third. Cunane finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
ICYMI
Monday’s game was the 15th Annual Play4Kay game in honor of former N.C. State head coach Kay Yow, who passed away in 2009 from stage 4 breast cancer.
At halftime hundreds of breast cancer survivors were honored on the court.
MAKING SENSE OF THE NUMBERS
10: Duke senior Leaonna Odom scored 10 points, giving her double-figure scoring in 11 straight games.
8: The Blue Devils only turned the ball over eight times, the lowest amount of turnovers they’ve had in ACC play.
23: Duke scored 23 points off of 16 N.C. State turnovers.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 11:00 PM.
