Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
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Women's Basketball
58
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Alana Beard To Have Her Number Retired Prior To Tennessee Game
1/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2004
DURHAM, N.C. - For the first time in Duke history a woman's basketball jersey will be hung in the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium, as Alana Beard's number 20 will be retired on Saturday prior to the top-ranked Blue Devils' game versus Tennessee at 6:00 p.m.
"I think it is fitting that Alana have her jersey retired for everything she has done for this program," said Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors. "She has taken us to new heights and is one of the best women's basketball players to ever play the game."
A two-time Kodak All-America and 2003 National Player of the Year, Beard is the career point's leader at Duke with 2,311 and continues to move up the ACC career charts as her senior year progresses. The 5-11 guard is currently in third place behind Barbara Kennedy of Clemson (3,113) and Genia Beasley of N.C. State (2,367).
"It is a blessing and honor to be the first women's player at Duke to have her jersey hung in the rafters in Cameron Indoor Stadium," said Beard. "To be considered one of the best to have played at Duke with all the great athletes who have come through this program over the years is truly amazing for my family and me. This is a great step for women's basketball at Duke and I hope to see more jerseys hung along with mine in the future."
Beard is a two-time ACC Player of the Year, three-time first team All-ACC, two-time first team Associated Press All-America and the ACC career leader with 15 ACC Player of the Week selections. She ranks in the top five of 11 Duke career categories-- points (1st, 2,311), scoring average (2nd, 19.8), field goals made (1st, 873), field goals attempted (1st, 1639), free throws made (2nd, 492), free throw percentage (5th, .766), assists (3rd, 443), steals (1st, 368), blocked shots (t-3rd, 121), double-figure scoring games (1st, 111) and overall wins (5th, 107).
A Shreveport, La., product, Beard also holds Duke single-game records for points (41), field goals made (16), field goals attempted (30), single-season records for points (813), field goals made (294), field goals attempted (558), free throws made (201) and steals (114). As a freshman at Duke, Beard was the consensus National Freshman of the Year and became the ACC's first freshman to be selected first team All-ACC.
"All the records she has broken and all the awards she has received along the way don't hold a candle to the type of person she is and the way she has represented our program," said Goestenkors. "She has given so much to Duke both on and off the court and I am honored to have been able to coach Alana over the last four years."
So far this season, Beard continues to showcase her talents averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.2 blocks. She was just selected the WBCA National Player of the Month and has earned ACC Player of the Week on three different occasions. In the preseason, Beard became only the third player to ever be selected preseason first team Associated Press All-America three times along with Tamika Catchings and Chamique Holdsclaw.
Beard will join 11 Duke men's basketball players who have had their jerseys retired-- Dick Groat (#10), Art Heyman (25), Jeff Mullins (44), Mike Gminski (43), Johnny Dawkins (24), Danny Ferry (35), Christian Laettner (32), Bobby Hurley (11), Grant Hill (33), Shane Battier (31) and Jason Williams (22).
Her parents, LeRoy and Marie, will be in attendance on Saturday for the ceremony. Beard is on schedule to graduate in May with a degree in sociology.
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