Blue Devils Move Up Two Spots To 15th In AP Poll

DURHAM, N.C.?After knocking off third-ranked Rutgers and Pittsburgh last week, the Duke women's basketball team moved to 15th in the Associated Press and remained No. 15 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Polls.

Duke owns an overall record of 7-3 and is currently off for nine days for final exams before returning to action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 as the Blue Devils will host Utah Valley at 7:00 p.m. Also prior to the Christmas holiday, Duke will host Bucknell on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m.

The Blue Devils will look to continue their 19-game home winning streak in Cameron Indoor Stadium when they host the two non-conference opponents.

In Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie's first year, the Blue Devils have played a rigorous schedule with only two home contests over the first 10 games to open the season. Duke's schedule featured only one home game during the month of November for the first time in school history.

The Blue Devils have also been saddled with numerous injuries that have sidelined senior Wanisha Smith, junior Abby Waner and freshman Krystal Thomas. The trio has missed a combined 12 games this year.

Since returning from a redshirt season a year ago, junior Chante Black has been very impressive this season averaging 12.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals as she is the only Blue Devil to start all 10 contests. Black is coming off registering a career-high six blocks in each of the last two games against third-ranked Rutgers and Pittsburgh. She is hitting 48.6 percent of her field goals.

As a team, all 12 Blue Devils are averaging double-figure minutes, while 10 of the team members have started at least one game this season. Duke has featured eight different starting lineups on the year out of 10 games.