Late Run Propels UNC Past Duke, 74-70

Sunday, January 29

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

Coach G, Duke Players Sit Down With Duke Inside Access

Late Run Propels UNC Past Duke, 74-70

1/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina scored on 14 of its last 16 possessions and Duke shot 11-of-23 from the free throw line as the Tar Heels defeated the Blue Devils 74-70 Sunday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Tar Heels won their fourth straight in the series after sweeping the season series last year. Duke had won the previous 12 meetings with North Carolina.

North Carolina started quickly out of the gate, scoring the game's first six points. Duke fought back and tied the game at 14 and 16 before taking control of the first half. Duke pushed the lead to five at 23-18 and after UNC closed the gap to one at 23-22, Duke rattled off a 15-0 run.

An Abby Waner three-pointer in that run gave Duke its first 10 point lead at 32-22 and Duke held a double-digit lead through halftime, up 40-27 at the mid-way point.

After an Alison Bales lay-up mid way through the second half, Duke held a 58-46 lead but would hit just one free throw down the stretch as UNC tied the game at 62 with four minutes left, got its first lead of the half at 65-64 and quickly pushed the lead to 68-64.

Monique Currie hit a three-pointer to pull Duke within one and Mistie Williams countered a Tar Heel lay-up with one of her own to make it 70-69 North Carolina. A few desperation shots didn't go for Duke and UNC finished with a four-point victory.

Mistie Williams led the way for Duke scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds while Currie finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Lindsey Harding had nine assists to go with seven points and a pair of steals in a complete game performance. Alison Bales scored 10 points while Abby Waner had nine and Chante Black eight.

Duke will have some much needed time off after two home games featuring No. 1 vs. No. 2 ranked teams and a road trip to Clemson sandwiched between them. Duke has over a week off as the team's next game is Monday, Feb. 6 at Virginia Tech.

With the win, North Carolina picked up a point in the Carlyle Cup standings. The Carlyle Cup ? an all-sports competition between Duke and North Carolina ? is in its sixth year of existence and sponsored by Carlyle & Co., a Greensboro-based jeweler. The Tar Heels now hold a 7.0 - 5.0 advantage.