Nothing would have been finer for Carolina than to have broken Duke’s winning streak Sunday in Cameron, but that didn’t happen as the Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels 72-68 to push the streak to 16.
Not that it was easy. UNC had a 33-28 first-half lead with 3:13 to play when the Blue Devils ripped off a 13-0 run, featuring three three-pointers from Jordan Wood, including a buzzer-beater to push the score to 41-33.
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Of course UNC fought back. That was inevitable. The Tar Heels won the third, 21-17, shooting 10-of-16 for the period. Carolina cut the lead to 56-54 before Ashlon Jackson hit a shot to give the Blue Devils a 58-54 lead going into the fourth.
In the final period, the Tar Heels cut the lead repeatedly to two or three points but could never quite get over the hump. Carolina cut the lead to 71-68 with 0:15 left but they fouled Jackson, who split her shots, but a 72-68 lead was enough to put Duke over the top.
Neither team shot well but UNC didn’t get to the line at all, which is unusual. Duke made 17 of 21 from the line.
Jackson and Taina Mair led the way with 14 each. Riley Nelson had 13. Toby Fournier was held to 6 but had 12 rebounds.
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Duke’s turnaround, to us anyway, is the story of the year in the ACC. This team has gone from 3-6 to 19-6 and is as hot and unified as any team in the country.
Next up is NC State in Cameron on Thursday. State is currently 17-7 and unranked but they are a well-coached team that is used to success. This game will be a challenge.
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