Duke Women’s Basketball Comes Back to Defeat North Carolina in Regular Season Finale

16th ranked Duke stormed back from a large halftime deficit to win a very tight game 81-80 against #15 rival UNC in Duke’s last game of the regular season and on Senior Night celebrating the graduating players Jenna Frush, Amber Henson, Ka’lia Johnson, and Elizabeth Williams. Each team had double-digit leads during this game, but the Blue Devils were able to hold off the Tar Heels and hold on for the victory.

Both teams struggled to take care of the ball this game, combining to commit 45 turnovers. Duke, however, scored 35 points off of UNC turnovers compared to 26 for Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels started off very hot from the field, going 7-11 from behind the three-point line and shooting 53.8% from the field from 3 for the game.

Duke was trailing 49-20 at halftime but rallied after the break and picked up the intensity on defense holding North Carolina to only 2 field goal in the first 9.5 minutes of the 2nd half and was able to take a 66-51 lead with 8:59 left to go in the game. The Blue Devils took over the game offensively in the second half, shooting 65.4% from the field.

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However, Chapel Hill stormed back closing the Blue Devils’ lead to 78-77 with about 30 seconds left in the game. After a free throw by Azurá Stevens Duke led 79-77, but Tar Heel guard Allisha Gray missed a layup attempt to tie the game. Stevens then sank two free throws to keep the Blue Devils ahead, even after a last minute 3 pointer by Gray. The Blue Devils out-rebounded the Tar Heels 39-32 and out-scored UNC in the paint 40-20, in points off of the bench 32-25, and in second chance points 16-12.

Azurá Stevens led Duke in the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds, including 2 huge free throws late to seal the game for Duke at the end. Rebecca Greenwell finished with 19 points, Elizabeth Williams had 18, and Amber Henson finished with 10 to score in double figures for the Blue Devils.

Greenwell and Williams came alive in the second half, where they scored 16 and 12 points, respectively. This victory was also the 100th ACC victory for head coach Joanne P. McCallie in her 8th year with the Blue Devils, faster than any other coach in conference history.

The Blue Devils’ victory today solidified Duke as the #4 seed in the Women’s ACC Basketball Tournament next weekend and UNC fell to the 6th seed. Duke will receive a double-bye in Greensboro with Notre Dame, Florida State, and Louisville. The Blue Devils have Wednesday and Thursday off before playing their first game on Friday at 11 AM.

Duke will face Syracuse (5th), Boston College (12th), or Wake Forest (13th) in the tournament quarterfinals depending on how the earlier rounds play out. Duke reached the championship game in the tournament last year, losing to Notre Dame, and have won the tournament 8 times since 2000.

Game MVP: Even though it was senior night, freshman Azurá Stevens excelled in this game finishing with game-highs for either team in points and rebounds with 21 and 12 to go along with 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal.