Blue Devils Cruise in Season Opening Win Against High Point

Tuesday, November 5

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

1-0,0-0ACC

High Point

0-1,0-0Big South

High Point

Duke

Kyra Lambert surrounded by teammates after making 60-foot buzzer beater in the first quarter

Blue Devils Cruise in Season Opening Win Against High Point

11/5/2019 9:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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DURHAM, N.C. – Opening the season at home for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, the Duke women's basketball team treated the Cameron Crazies with an impressive showing as the Blue Devils downed High Point, 93-57, Tuesday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils (1-0) won their 60^th straight contest against non-conference teams from the state of North Carolina, while also collecting their 53^rd consecutive home win as well versus non-conference teams from the state. Duke won its 15^th out of the last 16 season openers and improved to 36-9 all-time in season openers.

Duke got off to a good start led by sophomore Onome Akinbode-James and junior Jade Williams combining for the Blue Devils' first 11 points and Duke led 11-4.

At the 2:41 mark, graduate Kyra Lambert entered the contest for the first time in 962 days or two years, seven months and 18 days since she last suited up for Duke. After tearing her ACL on March 18, 2017 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Hampton, Lambert had gone through three surgeries before returning to action Tuesday.

A native of Cibolo, Texas, Lambert made her presence felt quickly on the defensive end registering a steal and showcased her point guard skills that had her ranked in the top 10 nationally coming out of high school. She closed the first quarter in dramatic fashion by draining a 60-foot shot to as time expired to give Duke a 25-13 lead at the break.

Williams, who is from The Colony, Texas, continued her hot shooting in the second quarter hitting her second three-pointer of the contest, which set a career high. She went on to finish the half with 12 points and four rebounds in less than 10 minutes. Williams had hit only two three-pointers over her first 63 collegiate contests.

Duke led 48-29 at the break, after hitting 52.6 percent from the field in the second quarter. Both senor Leaonna Odom and Akinbode-James added eight points each.

The Blue Devils went on a 12-2 run midway through the third quarter to take a 69-44 advantage. During the run, Odom became the 34^th Blue Devil to reach the 1,000 career point mark in just her 98^th career game. A product of Lompoc, Calif., Odom drained her second three-pointer of the game in the third quarter, after entering the game hitting 0-of-4 from three-point land her first three years in Durham.

Duke entered the final 10 minutes leading 77-49 and dominating the boards, 41-25.

All five starters finished the game with double-digit scoring led by Odom's 19 points. Senior All-America candidate Haley Gorecki had a solid game with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 30 minutes. Miela Goodchild added 10 points, a career-high seven rebounds, a career-high five assists and a steal, while Akinbode-James finished with 10 points and Williams' 12.

High Point (0-1) was led by Camryn Brown with 17 points.

The Blue Devils will next travel to College Station, Texas to take on sixth-ranked Texas A&M at 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10 live on the SEC Network+. Duke will take the trio of Lambert, Williams and Uchenna Nwoke back to their home state of Texas.

#GoDuke