Duke Holds Off Western Kentucky, 59-56

Friday, November 28

Bowling Green, Ky.

8:00 p.m.

Duke University

Western Kentucky

Duke Holds Off Western Kentucky, 59-56

11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ? Joy Cheek scored 12 points and Duke held off Western Kentucky 59-56 Friday night.

Cheek was in the starting lineup for No. 12 Duke (4-1) after a knee injury earlier in the week sidelined starting point guard Jasmine Thomas. Cheek started in the Blue Devils' first three games of the season, but came off the bench in Duke's win over Southern.

A final three-point attempt by WKU's Kenzie Rich as time expired fell far short of the basket.

Rich and Arnika Brown led the Lady Toppers (3-2) with 15 points each. Brown also had 13 rebounds.

The Blue Devils used a full-court press and their height advantage to force 19 turnovers in the first half, and Duke had 15 steals in the game.

"That was the key to our game tonight, was defense," Duke coach Joanne McCallie said.

The Blue Devils turned the ball over 21 times themselves, and were outrebounded 41-40.

"It wasn't a great game taking care of the basketball for either team, but I think it was the key stops we were trying to make that were important," McCallie said.

The Blue Devils and Lady Toppers shot a combined 32 percent in the first half, including 2 of 13 from the three-point arc. Both long balls came in the last 10 seconds of the half.

Chelsea Hopkins made the only three-pointer for the Blue Devils out of 10 attempts in the game.

Duke took the lead after a basket by Keturah Jackson made it 6-5 with 16 minutes to play in the first half.

The Lady Toppers were able to tie the score three times in the first half after that but never led again.

The Blue Devils led 28-20 at halftime.

The Lady Toppers fought back and tied the game again in the second half after being down by eight points three more times. Rich made all three free throws after being fouled by Chante Black on a three-point attempt to make the score 48-48 with 7:59 to play.

A layup by Cheek with 6:29 to play gave the Blue Devils the lead for good. The Lady Toppers had their chances, though. WKU had four field goal attempts with eight minutes to go in the second half that could have given them the lead.

"We had opportunities but at the same time we had 19 turnovers in the first half and took away opportunities," WKU coach Mary Taylor Cowles said. "That's where the disappointment comes in."

The Lady Toppers have a quick turnaround as they get ready to play Louisiana Tech on Sunday. Duke will host Iowa on Thursday.