Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
/
Final
Women's Basketball
58
vs UCLA
70
Duke & Connecticut To Face Off In Paradise Jam Title Game
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke & Connecticut To Face Off In Championship In Paradise...
In two appearances in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), the Duke women's basketball team (5-0) has advanced to the championship game on both occasions as the Blue Devils will face second-ranked Connecticut (4-0) on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) in the title match. The contest will be played at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center and will be televised by Fox College Sports with Mark Brown (PxP) and Brenda VanLengen (Color) calling the action.
Fans can also follow the action live on the Duke Radio Network with Steve Barnes (PxP) and Missy Anderson (Color) on WDNC AM 620. The contests can also been seen live on the web at www.paradisejam.com.
MEDIA INFO
What: Paradise Jam Championship
Date: Nov. 25, 2007
Location: St. Thomas, USVI
Venue: University of the Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center
Tipoff: 8:30 PM vs. Purdue & Temple
TV: Fox College Sports
TV Talent: Mark Brown (PxP), Brenda VanLengen (Color)
Radio: WDNC-AM 620
Radio Talent: Steve Barnes (PxP), Missy Anderson (Color)
Series Record: Tied 3-3
Livestats: TBA
Live Video: www.paradisejam.com
How We Both Got Here...
Duke knocked out 20th-ranked Purdue, 53-41, and Temple, 64-53, in the first two rounds at the Paradise Jam. The Blue Devils have struggled shooting from the field hitting only 39.8 percent of their field goals and 23.8 percent from downtown. Connecticut defeated fourth-ranked Stanford, 66-54, and Old Dominion, 86-43, in the first two games.
Noting Duke...
Duke has registered a 14-0 record during the last nine years at tropical destinations (Cancun in 2000 and 2006, Bahamas in 1999 and 2004, St. Thomas in 2002 and 2007) ... the last time Duke lost in the Caribbean was in 1997 with a 77-65 loss to eighth-ranked Illinois in San Juan, Puerto Rico ... over the last eight years, Duke owns a 46-5 record in games played in November ... the Blue Devils have won 19 straight contests in the month ... the squad returns three starters and nine letterwinners off a team that went 29-0 in the regular season last year becoming the first ACC team and 14th in NCAA history to go undefeated in the regular season ... senior Wanisha Smith is one point shy and junior Abby Waner is 196 points away from reaching 1,000 career points.
A Look At Connecticut...
Connecticut is the second-ranked team in the nation with a 4-0 record. The Huskies have been led by freshman Maya Moore (20.3 points, 7.8 rebounds), sophomore Tina Charles (14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds) and senior Mel Thomas (11.0 points, 12 treys) on the season. Head Coach Gena Auriemma owns a 625-120 record in 23 years with Connecticut. The Huskies are shooting a whopping 52.9 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point land. They are averaging 25.5 assists per game.
The Series With Connecticut...
The Huskies and Blue Devils have faced each other only six times in school history with the series tied 3-3. Duke has won the past two meetings with Connecticut and is coming off a 63-61 win in Bridgeport, Conn., on March 28, 2006 to advance to the NCAA Final Four. Connecticut's three victories came on Nov. 13, 1998 (104-74) at the Nike Four in the Fall in San Jose, Calif.; on Jan. 11, 1980 (81-69) at Cameron Indoor Stadium; and on Feb. 1, 2003 (77-65) at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke's other two wins came on Dec. 9, 1988 (83-69) at the Virginia Commonwealth Classic in Richmond, Va., and on Jan. 3, 2004 with the Blue Devils shocking No. 1 UConn, 68-67, on a last second three-pointer by Jessica Foley.
Duke Versus The BIG EAST...
The Blue Devils own a 27-15 record against teams from the BIG EAST-- Cincinnati (0-1), Connecticut (3-3), DePaul (1-1), Georgetown (4-0), Louisville (1-1), Marquette (2-0), Notre Dame (1-4), Providence (1-1), Rutgers (2-2), St. John's (1-0), Seton Hall (4-2), South Florida (2-0), Syracuse (1-0), Villanova (1-0) and West Virginia (2-0). The last BIG EAST opponent was South Florida earlier this season with Duke winning, 89-52.
Storylines...
? Duke's Jasmine Thomas and Krystal Thomas along with Connecticut's Maya Moore led the USA Basketball U19 World Championship team to a 9-0 record and the gold medal in Bratislava, Slovakia.
? In five games this season, Duke has had five different Blue Devils lead the team in scoring -- Abby Waner at Denver, Chante Black vs. South Florida, Krystal Thomas vs. UNC Greensboro, Jasmine Thomas vs. Purdue and Carrem Gay along with Black against Temple.
? Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie has faced Connecticut three times over her 16 years as a head coach. Her Michigan State squad defeated the Huskies, 67-51, on Dec. 29, 2004, while her Maine squads fell 98-70 in 1998 and 105-75 in 1995.
? So far this season, junior Chante Black is getting to the free throw line as she leads the Blue Devils with 29 attempts and 22 made for a 75.9 percentage. The next closest Blue Devil is Wanisha Smith hitting 7-of-10 attempts. Freshman Karima Christmas has attempted the second-most free throws on the team (11) in only 56 minutes.
? Duke freshman Karima Christmas will reunite with members of her family during the trip this week to St. Thomas. Christmas has about 20 relatives who have never seen her play basketball in St. Thomas, St. Croix and Dominica.
? The Blue Devils have produced an ACC-best 44.4 scoring defense and ACC-best 28.1 field goal percentage defense through five contests.
? Duke has held a 198-74 points in the paint advantage in the five games this season.
About The First Two Games For Duke...
Duke continues to struggle shooting, but has used stellar defense to lead the Blue Devils past Purdue, 53-41, and Temple, 64-53. In two games, the defense has held opponents to 31.3 percent shooting and 47.0 points per game. Duke's shooting has struggled as it has hit 39.8 percent from the field, 23.8 percent from downtown and 50.0 percent from the charity stripe.
The Blue Devils continue to play everyone on the roster except for Abby Waner, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Jasmine Thomas (13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists), Chante Black (11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks), Carrem Gay (7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists), Joy Cheek (6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds) and Wanisha Smith (6.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds) have led Duke so far.
The Blue Devils are coming off being outrebounded for the first time this season against Temple, 42-41.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
