Blue Devils Move to 2-0 with 83-56 Victory Over WCU

Sunday, November 29

Durham, N.C.

12 P.M.

Duke University

2-0,0-0ACC

Western Carolina

0-2,0-0SoCon

Western Caro.

Duke

Anastasieska dribbling the ball against WCU

Blue Devils Move to 2-0 with 83-56 Victory Over WCU

11/29/2020 2:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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DURHAM, N.C. – Behind 13 three-pointers, tying a school record, the Duke women's basketball team moved to 2-0 on the season with an 83-56 victory over Western Carolina University Sunday afternoon in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils improved to 2-0 on the season as Duke opens the "KaraEra" under the direction of head coach Kara Lawson.

Graduate transfer Sara Anastasieska paced the Blue Devils with a game-high 23 points, while freshman Vanessa de Jesus scored a career-high 17 points and junior Miela Goodchild added 14 points. Duke senior Jade Williams neared a triple-double with a career-high 15 rebounds, nine points and a career-high eight assists.

For the second straight contest, the Blue Devils got off to a hot start jumping out to a 14-4 advantage boosted by eight points from de Jesus. The rookie knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to open the game.

The Blue Devils would go on a 10-0 run late in the first quarter and led 24-9 after 10 minutes. Duke hit 52.6 percent from the field in the quarter, while holding the Catamounts to 26.7 percent shooting.

Duke continued its stellar shooting in the second quarter and built a 21-point, 43-23, lead at the half.

With 17 points, de Jesus led all scorers and was perfect from the field hitting 6-of-6 field goals, 3-of-3 from downtown and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Anastasieska added at Duke career high eight points, three steals and two assists in the first.

Duke came out of the halftime break and drained three straight three-pointers by Goodchild, who hit two, and sophomore Jaida Patrick, forcing the Catamounts to call a timeout. The Blue Devils went cold the rest of the third period as Duke hit only 2-of-16 field goals and led 60-40 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, Duke outscored WCU, 23-16, to close the contest.

The Blue Devils outrebounded the Catamounts, 50-31, and dished 20 assists in the victory. Duke turned the ball over only nine times.

It marked the fifth time in school history Duke has drained 13 three-pointers in a contest, while attempting a school-record 33 treys. For the second straight game, junior Onome Akinbode-James pulled down double-digit rebounds as she had 11 boards to go along with eight points.

Duke will remain at home as the Blue Devils will next host East Carolina Saturday, Dec. 5 in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game is slated for ACC Network Extra and a tip time will be announced this week.

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