Second-Half Run Elevates Duke Over Miami 73-58

Friday, January 9

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Miami

Second-Half Run Elevates Duke Over Miami 73-58

1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Associated Press

DURHAM, N.C. - Every time Duke was in danger of losing its advantage, Karima Christmas came to the rescue.

Christmas scored a career-high 21 points to lead the fifth-ranked Blue Devils to their 11th straight victory, 73-58 over Miami on Friday night.

The sophomore reserve, whose previous career high was 14 points, shot 7-for-10 from the field and was 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

"I wouldn't say I really felt a responsibility (to score)," Christmas said. "But I know that my teammates trust me to make a good decision when I have the ball, so I just have to trust myself and take the initiative and go attack."

Chante Black added 17 points and Joy Cheek had 11 for Duke (13-1, 1-0 ACC). The Blue Devils outrebounded Miami 48-27, won their 12th straight ACC opener and improved 6-0 all-time against the Hurricanes.

Christmas scored six points during a 10-0 spurt that gave Duke a 48-36 lead in the second half, and the Blue Devils led by at least eight the rest of the way.

"I thought Karima was outstanding," Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "She's just very strong, very confidant and just bringing what she can bring to the team."

Epiphany Woodson scored 16 points and LaToya Drake added 11 for the Hurricanes (10-6, 0-2). Shenise Johnson, Miami's leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, finished with just three.

"We don't have (Christmas) scouted for some of the stuff she did tonight," said Miami coach Katie Meier, who played at Duke from 1986-90 and is fifth on the school's all-time scoring list. "And that makes Duke a very tough team if she's going to shoot like that."

Duke never trailed but squandered a 28-15 first-half lead as Miami went on a 13-0 run during a 6?-minute stretch in which the Blue Devils failed to score on 11 possessions. Riquna Williams scored seven points during the spurt the Hurricanes.

"We got away from doing what got us there in terms of patience and getting the ball inside," McCallie said of the cold spell. "We went 6 or 7 minutes without inside players touching the ball. ... And we took quick shots, we turned the ball over and Miami hit some shots."

The Blue Devils regained the lead 29-28 on a free throw by Christmas, and led 32-30 at halftime. They extended their advantage to 19 in the second half.

Miami shot nearly 37 percent from the field, above the 31.8 percent Duke came in allowing, but was just 2-for-18 on 3s and committed 20 turnovers. The Hurricanes took advantage of the Blue Devils' miscues, scoring 26 points off Duke's 24 turnovers.