Feb. 3, 2011
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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – Freshman Haley Peters scored 15 points and No. 3 Duke bounced back from its first loss by routing No. 18 Miami 82-58 on Thursday night.
Karima Christmas added 14 points, while freshman Richa Jackson had a season-high 13 in her first start for the Blue Devils (21-1, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).
They shot nearly 55 percent, forced 20 turnovers and overcame a rough night from their best player to avoid their first losing streak since 2007-08. They also claimed a matchup of two of the league’s top teams and regained some momentum heading into next week’s showdown against rival North Carolina.
Riquna Williams, the ACC’s leading scorer, finished with 27 points on 8-of-25 shooting for Miami (20-3, 6-2), which shot 32 percent.
Shenise Johnson, the league’s No. 2 scorer, was held to 12 points – seven fewer than her average – for the Hurricanes. Their coach – former Duke All-American Katie Meier – fell to 0-7 against her alma mater.
Miami cut it to single digits only once in the second half on a layup by Williams that made it 49-40 with 15:15 remaining, but Christmas followed by hitting layups 30 seconds apart to start the 18-3 run that put Duke comfortably ahead to stay. That came as Miami managed one field goal in a 10-minute span.
The Blue Devils improved to 6-1 against Top 25 opponents, ran their record to 8-0 all-time against Miami and won their 20th straight at Cameron Indoor Stadium. They did it despite Jasmine Thomas’ uncharacteristic struggles; the league’s preseason player of the year finished with four points – her fewest since a 3-point night two years ago against Virginia.
Jackson, who averaged only about 9 1/2 minutes in the Blue Devils’ first 21 games, started because of her energy in the 36-point loss to No. 2 Connecticut three nights earlier that marked the first defeat for what at the time was the nation’s only unbeaten team. Jackson delivered in this one, surpassing her previous high by halftime.
Neither team led by more than five until Duke assembled a 23-8 run late in the first half and beat Miami downcourt with regularity, while the Hurricanes went more than five minutes between field goals. Williams was the only Miami player to score in the final 9 1/2 minutes of the half, racking up 13 points in that span.
Allison Vernerey’s layup capped the burst and put the Blue Devils up 41-27 with about 2 minutes left.
