Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Quotes: Duke 82, N.C. Central 29
1/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke Coach Joanne P. McCallie
Opening Statement:
“This was a good game for us in a lot of ways. I thought that we kept our focus pretty well and tried to stay on task with what we were doing from a rebounding and defensive standpoint. We were able to work on a lot of things in terms of improving our execution on defense and rebounding. Offensively, I think we were much better in the second half. We missed too many shots in the first half; we shouldn't be missing 10 to 12 lay-ups like we did. Powering up strong and being very physical is something we're trying to improve. I like Wanisha [Smith's] line in particular because she is showing a full game. She's such a versatile player and I love when she shows that off a little bit. I was also very proud of KJ [Keturah Jackson] with the career-high number of steals. She defends for us and does a good job and she really made use of her time on the floor tonight.”
On Chante Black:
“We always want to get the ball in and create our points in the paint. Chante probably should have gotten the ball a little bit more seeing as she was 7-of-7. For the minutes she played she was obviously very efficient in what she did with the basketball and Chante is like that; she's that kind of player. She makes the most of her minutes and I thought she did a very good job.”
On what she learned about her team tonight:
“I learned that we're getting better at focusing on each other and focusing on what we need to do. What I mean by that is just the overall execution and playing in the moment and each possession. I thought that our team for the most part valued every possession. There were a few turnovers but overall I thought we valued the ball, we moved the ball, we found people and I thought we valued the defensive intensity that it takes when you're trying to be dominant.”
On N.C. Central:
“I know that they've lost a lot of players and I think they have a terrific program and that last year was a very special year for them. They played hard and didn't quit; they worked on things they needed to work on. I liked their attitude and spirit of competition and that's the way it should be”
On continuing the series with N.C. Central:
“For me, locally, it's important for women's basketball. I always say that with some hesitation because I don't know what the schedule is when in terms of what fits in, but I think it's very important to bring women's basketball to the highest level in this area and to make it be known. I think it can be a good thing for the community so I support it.”
Junior Center Chante Black
On the team's performance in the second half:
“We just wanted to pick up energy and come out with excitement and an attacking mindset. We struggled a lot in the first half with finishing so we wanted to concentrate on that.”
On her performance:
“I always want to finish and tonight they all fell so it just went that way. I'm always looking to finish and tonight was a good night for me. I have to work on being more demanding of the ball. There could have been more opportunities for shots.”
Junior Guard Abby Waner
On chemistry with Wanisha Smith:
“It just comes with playing together. We've finally been on the court together for a couple games now and you have to let the flow of the game come to you. Wanisha was playing a great game tonight and was finding people easily so that's just kind of how the game went. She's one of those players that the rest of the team feeds off of. She's very energetic and when she gets the ball in her hands and is playing well, she makes things happen. I'm one of the players that tend to benefit from that because she finds me really well because we do have good chemistry from playing together for two and a half years.”
Sophomore Forward Joy Cheek
On her high school rivalry with LaVona Hailey:
“She's always been a very good passer and a good leader for her team. That was one thing that was hard for us in high school; it was hard to stop her drive and kick.”
Players Mentioned
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