Duke WBB Earns a Tough Victory at Home Versus Wake Forest in their ACC Opener

The Duke women’s basketball team found a way to overcome their turnovers and beat Wake Forest in their first ACC game of the season.

Duke had 23 turnovers for the game but they still found a way to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 70-63. The Blue Devils found a way to win thanks to a balanced scoring attack. Elizabeth Williams came up big for Duke scoring 18 points,  eight rebounds, five steals and six blocks. Williams was a monster all game long and she wreaked havoc for the Demon Deacons. There was simply no answer for her on either end of the floor.

For the majority of the first half it looked as though Wake Forest was going to blow Duke out of their own gym. The Demon Deacons came out of the gates clicking on all cylinders and before you knew it they were up 10-0 and The Blue Devils looked lost. Williams scored Duke’s first basket after more than four minutes of play.

Dec 29, 2014; Hartford, CT, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard/forward Azura Stevens (11) shoots against Connecticut Huskies forward Breanna Stewart (30) in the second half at XL Center. UConn defeated Duke 83-52. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Within the next five minutes of play Wake Forest went on a run to extend their lead. The Demon Deacons were leading 19-10 with 12:01 remaining in the first half and quickly went on a 7-0 run. Duke was down by 16 points but there was more than 30 minutes remaining in the game.

All of sudden the game changed and Duke came roaring back. The defense picked up and the offense started to make some shots. When you trail by more than 10 points in a game coaches are always saying just get within 10. Once you get within 10 then there is light at the end of the tunnel.

With four minutes remaining in the first half Duke was down by only six points, 30-24, and they could sense momentum was on their side. Duke kept fighting. They kept battling and with 20 seconds to go in the half Oderah Chidom gave Duke their first lead at 34-33 and they never looked back.

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Wake Forest let a big lead slip from their grasps and they were never able to recover. Duke started the second half just the way they finished the first. The Blue Devils came out of the locker room on fire. They went on a 12-1 run and took a 46-34 lead with 15:56 remaining in the game. All that was left for Duke to complete their comeback victory was to hold off the Demon Deacons.

The good news for Duke is that Wake Forest just ran out of time. Up by 15 points, 53-38, Duke looked to be in control, but just like the first half for Duke, Wake Forest made their run. With time running out Wake Forest managed to get within four points but weren’t able to tie it up.

Only two minutes remained and the score was 67-63. Duke was struggling to hold off a gutsy Demon Deacon team but good team defense and the ability to make free-throws sealed the victory for the Blue Devils.

Helping lead the way for Duke was freshman sensation Rebecca Greenwell who scored 15 points and six rebounds. Greenwell struggled to connect from behind the arc but took care of the basketball and helped set up her teammates. Even though she only recorded two assists Greenwell was pivotal in helping spread the basketball and set up her teammates.

Chidom, 10 points, and Ka’lia Johnson, 15 points, were also extremely important in the victory. Duke didn’t play its best game of the season but a win is a win. With the win Duke is now 10-4 on the season and kicks off their conference schedule the right way. Every win is important in conference play and starting 1-0 is just what you want to do when you have big goals as a team.