Lexie Brown, Duke Advance To Semifinal Saturday With A Win Against Syracuse
Duke had a bye in the first two rounds of the ACC tournament so that gave them the advantage on Friday over Syracuse who had to play Thursday.
Junior Lexy Brown led the way for Duke with 22 points as Duke defeated Syracuse 68-46. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Kendell Cooper had a great outing as she finished with 12 points and eight rebounds while Kyra Lambert finished with nine rebounds.
Oderah Chidom also contributed to Duke's scoring effort as she had 11 points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Tight defense and effective rebounding from both sides kept either team from garnering any momentum in the early going, as the contest would proceed to the second frame with the Blue Devils up 15-14 following a Lexie Brown buzzer-beating three. She would lead the team at the end of the first with eight points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Syracuse regained the lead at 16-15 on a hard layup. Cooper would answer with her third and fourth points of the game, only to be followed by a Syracuse three. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Orange got things started in the second frame, re-taking the lead with a hard-earned layup to go up 16-15. Cooper would answer with her third and fourth points of the game, only to be followed by a Syracuse three. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
After minutes of scoreless play, senior Oderah Chidom would break it up with a tough basket inside the paint that would be followed by a Greenwell jumper that extended the Blue Devils’ lead to three. That lead would be short-lived, as a Syracuse trey would knot it back up at 22-22. Duke made sure not to allow Syracuse to regain the lead, however, as Chidom would find the basket right as the shot clock expired, making it 24-22. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
With just seconds before half, sophomore Kyra Lambert joined the likes of teammate Brown, hitting a deep bucket from beyond the arc as time expired, sending the Blue Devils into the locker room at the half up 29-26. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Despite not scoring in the second quarter, Brown would still lead the team at the half with eight points. Chidom followed just behind with seven. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The score would reflect 29-26 for the first 2:04 of the second half until Kendell Cooper bucket from near the top of the key extended the lead to five. The physicality of play increased noticeably as the third quarter continued, highlighted by a hard fall from Greenwell on an attempted shot from the paint. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Lexie Brown showed her toughness as well, earning a trip to the charity stripe after a Syracuse foul sent her well beyond the baseline into the group of nearby photographers. Brown’s added point made it 47-39, and the Blue Devils began to pick up steam, improving their defensive play on the other end as well. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Kendall Cooper put an exclamation mark on the third quarter by stuffing an attempted three from Syracuse and sending it into the crowd as the Blue Devils ended the frame with a 51-39 lead. Brown maintained her team lead in points, heading into the fourth quarter with 18. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
There would be nothing doing for the first 2:25 of the final frame until two foul shots from Syracuse made it 51-41. Lexie Brown responded with her third three of the game, giving her 20 points with over half a quarter to play.
Duke would not look back, taking their lead all the way to the final buzzer. Syracuse showed late life in the closing minutes, but the Blue Devils couldn’t seem to miss, essentially nullifying the efforts from the Orange.
One of the keys to Duke’s victory was the containment of Syracuse’s Alexis Peterson, who was named the ACC Player of the Year. The senior only managed nine points on the night, well short of her 23.7 average. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
With the win, the Blue Devils advance to Saturday’s semifinal round where they will face the Hurricanes of Miami. Tip - Off is set for 2:30 p.m. with coverage on ESPNU. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211513952&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Syracuse (21-10) hung around for the entirety of the first half, keeping within striking distance of Duke (26-4). Blue Devils sophomore guard Kyra Lambert knocked down a 3-point field goal at the buzzer of the second quarter to give Duke a 3-point advantage heading into halftime.
Freshmen guard Gabby Cooper led the team in scoring, totaling 18 points. She matched her career high with six 3-point field goals made on the night. "according to http://www.cuse.com/news/2017/3/3/womens-basketball-21-20-orange-fall-in-acc-quarterfinals.aspx
Syracuse now awaits their post season fait in the NCAA Tournament.