No. 12 Duke Falls To No. 2 North Carolina In ACC Championship Game

Sunday, March 9

Greensboro, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

No. 12 Duke Falls To No. 2 North Carolina In ACC Championship Game

3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Duke's impressive run at the 2008 ACC Tournament came to an end Sunday as the 12th-ranked Blue Devils fell to second-ranked North Carolina, 86-73, here at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Chante Black and Jasmine Thomas led the way for Duke with 16 points apiece while Abby Waner added 11 for Duke. Waner earned first-team All-ACC Tournament honors with a career-high tying nine rebounds and added game highs with six steals and five assists, as well. Black was efficient, scoring 16 points on just six shot attempts, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and 8-of-10 from the line.

Duke cut North Carolina's eight point halftime lead in half with a layup five minutes into the second half but couldn't continue that run as North Carolina had a 9-0 run to push the lead to 56-43 and the lead remained between 10 and 15 points the rest of the game.

Joy Cheek and Wanisha Smith each earned second-team all-tournament honors. Cheek finished with nine points and five rebounds while Smith had seven points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.

Duke outshot North Carolina, hitting 28-of-65 (.431) from the field to a 23-of-59 (.390) performance for the Tar Heels, but Duke was whistled 29 times, resulting in 44 free throw attempts for the Tar Heels, a Duke opponent season high and just four off the ACC Tournament record.

Erlana Larkins scored 17 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Tar Heels as she was named tournament MVP.

Duke will now await its NCAA Tournament fate as Selection Monday is still eight days away on March 17 at 7:00 p.m.