Women Win Duke Women's Classic With 63-49 Victory Against No. 8 Penn State

Blue Devils Win Duke Classic for eighth straight season; Schweitzer named Most Valuable Player

DURHAM, N.C. -- No. 25 Duke defeated No. 8 Penn State 63-49 to win its eighth Duke Women's Basketball Classic Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The victory improved Duke to 4-1 overall while Penn State dropped to 3-1.

Duke guard Georgia Schweitzer was named tournament Most Valuable Player while Peppi Browne was selected to the all tournament team.

Building upon a 28-23 halftime lead Duke slowly extended its lead to 12 points (42-30) on consecutive layups by Michele Matyasovsky and Peppi Browne. Duke put the game away as it scored nine straight points in a 1:30 minute span using a Sheana Mosch three-point play, a Schweitzer three-pointer, a Lauren Rice free throw and a Mosch jumper to go up 51-34 with 5:50 to go.

The Blue Devils did the job on defense as they held the Lady Lions to 27 percent field goal shooting (18-66). Duke also held forward Lisa Shepherd to two points and 0-12 shooting after she collected career-highs of 31 points and six three-pointers Saturday against Florida A&M.

It's a huge win for us, Duke head coach Gail Goestenkors said. Penn State is an incredible team. We were worried about this game. We talked about the fact that we would learn a lot about ourselves today and found out some good things today. We fought and scrapped for every rebound, every loose ball. We have to in order for us to be successful. We played with great emotion today.

Schweitzer led Duke with 18 points. Center Lauren Rice registered her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds, guard Sheana Mosch came off the bench to score 14 points (5-8 shooting) and Peppi Browne tallied 10 points. This team plays with more heart and intensity than any team I've had, Goestenkors said. They're willing to run through a brick wall to win a game.

Penn State was led by Andrea Garner's 12 points (5-10 shooting) and nine rebounds. Maren Walseth contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. St. Joseph's defeated Florida A&M 75-37 in the consolation game. Susan Moran an dJana Lichnerova each scored 17 points for St. Joseph's. Duke is next in action on Thursday against Elon College at 7 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

All Tournament Team

Most Valuable Player: Georgia Schweitzer, Duke

Lisa Shepherd, Penn State;
Susan Moran, St. Joseph's
Peppi Browne, Duke;
Helen Darling,Penn State

Tournament Results

Saturday, Nov. 27
Penn State 96
St. Joseph's 64

Duke 93
Florida A&M 38

Sunday, Nov. 28
Consolation Game:
St. Joseph's
75 Florida A&M 37

Championship Game:
Duke 63
Penn State 49

Tournament Champion: Duke
Duke wins tournament for the eighth straight season.