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Top Women's Basketball Moments of 2019
12/22/2019 7:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C.-- As 2020 nears, GoDuke.com takes a look back at the year of 2019 with the Duke women's basketball program.Â
#GoDuke
Sellout Crowd Versus UNC; Win on Senior Night
For the third time out of the last four seasons, the Duke women's basketball team swept arch-rival North Carolina in the regular season as the Blue Devils registered a 62-44 victory in front of a sellout crowd in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Junior Leaonna Odom paced the Blue Devils with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, marking her sixth game this season she has reached the 20-point mark. Sophomore Jade Williams notched her second collegiate double-double with 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Goodchild Nets 29 Points at Notre Dame; Drains Eight Treys
Against one of the best teams in the nation, freshman Miela Goodchild shined at fifth-ranked Notre Dame as the rookie scored a career-high 26 points and tied a Duke record with eight-three-pointers made as the Blue Devils dropped an 89-61 decision in Notre Dame, Ind. Goodchild scored 21 of her 26 points in the second half and her eight three-pointers tied Rebecca Greenwell's Blue Devil single game mark. Her eight treys was broke the Duke freshman record for made three-pointers as well.
Gray Selected to WNBA All-Star Team; All-WNBA First Team
For the first time in her career, Duke alumna Chelsea Gray was named First Team All-WNBA, after averaging 14.5 points, which was tied for 13th in the WNBA, and a career-high 5.9 assists this season. Her 5.9 assists a game ranked second in the league.
In the 16th annual edition of the WNBA All-Star Game, Gray helped lead Team Wilson to a 129-126 victory in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Spark knocked off Team Della Donne and WNBA teammate Nneka Ogwumike in her third-straight All-Star appearance, her first as a starter. The floor general scored eight points on 4-11 shooting from the field. Per usual, it was Gray's vision that separated her, dishing out a game-high 10 assists in the matchup of the league's best. Gray also grabbed five rebounds on the night.
Blue Devils Add De Jesus in Early Signing Period
Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie announced the signing of Valencia, Calif., product Vanessa de Jesus in December to a national letter of intent to attend Duke in the fall of 2020. A 5-8 guard, de Jesus is coming off a junior campaign with Sierra Canyon School where she averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals. She helped guide the squad to a school-record 33-1 mark and the state championship. De Jesus was the California Southern Section Open Division Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-America selection as a junior, while also earning Gold Coast League MVP and was a California Ms. Basketball finalist. She was selected to the USA Today All-USA California Girls Basketball Team and was the Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year.Â
Lambert Returns, Drains Long-Range Jumper
After not playing for 962 days due to knee injuries, graduate Kyra Lambert made her return to the court in the season opener against High Point. A native of Cibolo, Texas, Lambert made her presence felt quickly when she entered the contest. She registered 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.
Gorecki Turns in Standout Season in 2019-20
Haley Gorecki collected one of the best indivdiual seasons in Duke history last year as she averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals. She became the third Blue Devil to register 500 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists and 75 steals in a season. She also became just the seventh player in ACC history to lead their team in scoring rebounding and assists. Gorecki also was just the seventh Blue Devil to total over 500 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in their first 50 collegiate games in 2018-19 (Alana Beard, Lexie Brown, Monique Currie, Rebecca Greenwell, Alexis Jones and Katie Meier). Gorecki earned All-ACC First Team selection by the Blue Ribbon Panel ... All-ACC Second Team honoree by the ACC Coaches.
Harding Named Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach
Over the summer, Duke graduate Lindsey Harding was named assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. She became the seventh female assistant coach in the NBA joining Becky Hammon (San Antonio Spurs), Jenny Boucek (Dallas Mavericks), Natalie Nakase (Los Angeles Clippers), Kristi Toliver (Washington Wizards), Kara Lawson (Boston Celtics) and Karen Stack Umlauf (Chicago Bulls).
Odom, Gorecki Register 1,000 Career Points
Early in the 2019-20 campaign, Leaonna Odom and Haley Gorecki became the 34th and 35th Blue Devils in school history. Odom registered 1,000 points in the season opener against High Point, while Gorecki accomplished the feat versus Boston College. Gorecki was the 10th quickest to reach 1,000 points in Duke history in only 77 games.Â
Gray Represents USA Basketball
Former Duke two-time All-America Chelsea Gray saw her first career action with the USA Women's National Team in an 81-58 victory over Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. Gray, a 2014 Blue Devil graduate and current member of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, checked in at the two minute mark of the first quarter to officially register her first game in a USA Basketball uniform. She proceeded to score her first points 12 seconds later and finished the contest with eight points and four assists.Â
Goodchild Earns Silver Medal with Australia
In a back-and-forth contest for the gold medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Duke University sophomore Miela Goodchild and her Australia squad dropped a 74-70 overtime tilt to the United States in Bangkok, Thailand. It marked the first time in 22 years Australia had been in the championship of the World Cup and the Gems came away with the silver medal.
Jasmine Thomas Named to WNBA All-Defensive Team; Sun Advanced to WNBA Finals
Jasmine Thomas, a 2011 Duke graduate, received 2019 WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors for the third straight year, while leading her Connecticut Sun squad to the WNBA finals.  Connecticut's Thomas is one of the top on-ball defenders in the league, who tied for eighth in steals with a 1.41 per game average. She was also a second team selection in 2016.
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#GoDuke
Sellout Crowd Versus UNC; Win on Senior Night
For the third time out of the last four seasons, the Duke women's basketball team swept arch-rival North Carolina in the regular season as the Blue Devils registered a 62-44 victory in front of a sellout crowd in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Junior Leaonna Odom paced the Blue Devils with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, marking her sixth game this season she has reached the 20-point mark. Sophomore Jade Williams notched her second collegiate double-double with 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Senior Day was truly an experience.
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) March 3, 2019
Sellout crowd in Cameron.
Season sweep of Carolina.
And we're not done yet. ACC Tourney starts Wednesday. ?? pic.twitter.com/al78tU2joe
Goodchild Nets 29 Points at Notre Dame; Drains Eight Treys
Against one of the best teams in the nation, freshman Miela Goodchild shined at fifth-ranked Notre Dame as the rookie scored a career-high 26 points and tied a Duke record with eight-three-pointers made as the Blue Devils dropped an 89-61 decision in Notre Dame, Ind. Goodchild scored 21 of her 26 points in the second half and her eight three-pointers tied Rebecca Greenwell's Blue Devil single game mark. Her eight treys was broke the Duke freshman record for made three-pointers as well.
???????? pic.twitter.com/opYB8HNUXI
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) February 23, 2019
Gray Selected to WNBA All-Star Team; All-WNBA First Team
For the first time in her career, Duke alumna Chelsea Gray was named First Team All-WNBA, after averaging 14.5 points, which was tied for 13th in the WNBA, and a career-high 5.9 assists this season. Her 5.9 assists a game ranked second in the league.
Chelsea Gray with the All-Star razzle dazzle ? (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/2N7xcZGXp9
— WSLAM (@wslam) July 27, 2019
In the 16th annual edition of the WNBA All-Star Game, Gray helped lead Team Wilson to a 129-126 victory in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Spark knocked off Team Della Donne and WNBA teammate Nneka Ogwumike in her third-straight All-Star appearance, her first as a starter. The floor general scored eight points on 4-11 shooting from the field. Per usual, it was Gray's vision that separated her, dishing out a game-high 10 assists in the matchup of the league's best. Gray also grabbed five rebounds on the night.
Congrats Chels, first team All-WNBA, and Jas, first team All-Defense! No surprise here. Congratulations to both on a great season. And good luck Jas tonight! More to come!https://t.co/R6CcTK1kJa
— Joanne P. McCallie (@CoachPDuke) October 8, 2019
Blue Devils Add De Jesus in Early Signing Period
Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie announced the signing of Valencia, Calif., product Vanessa de Jesus in December to a national letter of intent to attend Duke in the fall of 2020. A 5-8 guard, de Jesus is coming off a junior campaign with Sierra Canyon School where she averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals. She helped guide the squad to a school-record 33-1 mark and the state championship. De Jesus was the California Southern Section Open Division Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-America selection as a junior, while also earning Gold Coast League MVP and was a California Ms. Basketball finalist. She was selected to the USA Today All-USA California Girls Basketball Team and was the Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year.Â
OFFICIAL. Welcome to the family, Vanessa. Tough PG out of Cali ???? pic.twitter.com/BoHwamK5xO
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) November 13, 2019
Lambert Returns, Drains Long-Range Jumper
After not playing for 962 days due to knee injuries, graduate Kyra Lambert made her return to the court in the season opener against High Point. A native of Cibolo, Texas, Lambert made her presence felt quickly when she entered the contest. She registered 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.
Always great to be on ESPN. S/O @notthefakeSVP for having Kyra as your "Best Thing I Saw Today" ???? pic.twitter.com/WxywFqZ8Qx
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) November 6, 2019
Gorecki Turns in Standout Season in 2019-20
Haley Gorecki collected one of the best indivdiual seasons in Duke history last year as she averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals. She became the third Blue Devil to register 500 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists and 75 steals in a season. She also became just the seventh player in ACC history to lead their team in scoring rebounding and assists. Gorecki also was just the seventh Blue Devil to total over 500 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in their first 50 collegiate games in 2018-19 (Alana Beard, Lexie Brown, Monique Currie, Rebecca Greenwell, Alexis Jones and Katie Meier). Gorecki earned All-ACC First Team selection by the Blue Ribbon Panel ... All-ACC Second Team honoree by the ACC Coaches.
Great teammate. Tireless worker. Also the only player in Power Five averaging over 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals.
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) March 6, 2019
?? All-ACC First Team
?? @HaleyGorecki pic.twitter.com/nqYnXiPHCO
Harding Named Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach
Over the summer, Duke graduate Lindsey Harding was named assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. She became the seventh female assistant coach in the NBA joining Becky Hammon (San Antonio Spurs), Jenny Boucek (Dallas Mavericks), Natalie Nakase (Los Angeles Clippers), Kristi Toliver (Washington Wizards), Kara Lawson (Boston Celtics) and Karen Stack Umlauf (Chicago Bulls).
"The players have never been the issue. I guess it's just being afraid of the unknown."
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 26, 2019
New Assistant Coach for the Kings, @Lindsey_Harding, on how it feels to be among the growing number of female coaches in the NBA ???? » https://t.co/nWM5bh2noG pic.twitter.com/jtKhp16S8Z
Odom, Gorecki Register 1,000 Career Points
Early in the 2019-20 campaign, Leaonna Odom and Haley Gorecki became the 34th and 35th Blue Devils in school history. Odom registered 1,000 points in the season opener against High Point, while Gorecki accomplished the feat versus Boston College. Gorecki was the 10th quickest to reach 1,000 points in Duke history in only 77 games.Â
?? @HaleyGorecki:
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) December 12, 2019
?? 10th-fastest Duke player to reach 1,000 points (77 games)
?? 35th Blue Devil to reach the mark
?? 14 consecutive double-figure games
?? Stats: 18.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.5 APG pic.twitter.com/NbQsJaQqwA
??1??0??0??0????
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) November 8, 2019
Leaonna Odom hit 1,000 points in the first game of her senior year. Became the 34th Blue Devil to do so ??
Big things ahead for the bouncy, versatile and shifty hooper ???? pic.twitter.com/KnHC20Rxgb
Gray Represents USA Basketball
Former Duke two-time All-America Chelsea Gray saw her first career action with the USA Women's National Team in an 81-58 victory over Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. Gray, a 2014 Blue Devil graduate and current member of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, checked in at the two minute mark of the first quarter to officially register her first game in a USA Basketball uniform. She proceeded to score her first points 12 seconds later and finished the contest with eight points and four assists.Â
?? #USABWNT pulls away in second half to top @BeaverWBB in Corvallis, 81-58https://t.co/igrYZHijxu
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) November 5, 2019
Goodchild Earns Silver Medal with Australia
In a back-and-forth contest for the gold medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Duke University sophomore Miela Goodchild and her Australia squad dropped a 74-70 overtime tilt to the United States in Bangkok, Thailand. It marked the first time in 22 years Australia had been in the championship of the World Cup and the Gems came away with the silver medal.
Congrats @MielaGoodchild on the silver medal. Great game between both countries! An instant classic OT finish. #FIBAU19 ????????
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 28, 2019
Excited to welcome you back to Durham soon, Miela! ???? pic.twitter.com/y2UL1Ow4KQ
Surprise visit to see Miela in Bangkok!
— Joanne P. McCallie (@CoachPDuke) July 27, 2019
It has been terrific trip to visit with Miela and her parents and support her Gems squad. We have been following all summer. Of course, we cannot wait to get all back together in late August in Durham! ???? pic.twitter.com/Nnpy2dXfW4
Jasmine Thomas Named to WNBA All-Defensive Team; Sun Advanced to WNBA Finals
Jasmine Thomas, a 2011 Duke graduate, received 2019 WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors for the third straight year, while leading her Connecticut Sun squad to the WNBA finals.  Connecticut's Thomas is one of the top on-ball defenders in the league, who tied for eighth in steals with a 1.41 per game average. She was also a second team selection in 2016.
Career-high 29 PTS heading into the league finals. Let's get it @jaszthomas
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) September 23, 2019
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