All Five Starters Score In Double Figures In 92-49 Win Over Bucknell

Friday, December 21

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Bucknell

Tomko: Cheek Mentors Youth At Emily K Center

All Five Starters Score In Double Figures In 92-49 Win Over Bucknell

12/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - After averaging barely more than 66 points in its first 10 games, No. 14 Duke broke 90 for the second straight time Friday and beat Bucknell, 92-49. Instead of the Blue Devils' 40-for-91 shooting or 57-32 edge in rebounds, Duke first-year coach Joanne McCallie first credited the defense.

"In 16 years of coaching, I've always believed in pressing full court," said McCallie. "Being at Duke, with the quality of players we have here, it elevates it to a new level of opportunity."

Duke scored 40 points off 32 Bucknell turnovers, 20 of them steals. When McCallie wasn't applauding the defense, she was waving the Blue Devils forward to pick up the pace.

"Particularly when we're not being pressed, we want to get the ball up the court at the speed of light," she said.

All five Duke starters broke double digits Friday, with Chante Black and Joy Cheek each getting 19 points and eight rebounds. Cheek's numbers were her career high in points and a season high for boards.

"I'm feeling more confident," Cheek said. "The coaches expect our posts to score, and what player doesn't like to score?"

Abby Waner added 16 for Duke (9-3). Jasmine Thomas had 12 and Wanisha Smith 11 points. None of Duke's starters played more than 27 minutes.

"We definitely got better tonight with a variety of issues, whether it was offensive rebounds, or assists, or having five players in double figures and creating some balance of opportunities on offense," McCallie said.

Kesha Champion led Bucknell (4-7) with 21 points. She hit 7-for-11 from the field, including 3-for-4 shooting on 3-pointers.

"It was a challenge," Champion said. "That was a better press than we've seen all year. It was difficult to prepare for it."

Duke held Bucknell's Hope Foster to two points. The preseason player of the year in the Patriot League, Foster hit 1-of-5 from the field.

"She was just out-sized," Bucknell coach Kathy Fedorjaka said. "Definitely out-sized against that level of athleticism. Chante Black is not just big (6-5), but has great athleticism and is very mobile."

Out-rebounded 33-7 on the offensive boards, Bucknell gave up 27 second-chance points to Duke. Duke led 53-31 by halftime, the best first half of scoring for the Blue Devils so far this season. Waner hit three 3-pointers and had 13 points in the first half. Black had 11 at the half.

The Bison managed a single 3-point basket by Champion in the first 16:26 of the second half, while Duke used a 10-3 run to stretch its lead to 63-34. Bucknell missed its last six shots and failed to score in the game's final 6:09. Duke ended the game with an 11-0 run.

"I loved the fight of our last group in," McCallie said. "I challenged them to not allow a score."