Dec. 8, 2007

Duke Beats Pitt At The Buzzer, 51-49

NEW YORK (AP) - Joy Cheek's putback with 1.2 seconds left lifted No. 17 Duke to a 51-49 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday in the first game of the Maggie Dixon Classic.

Cheek scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half and Abby Waner added 10 for the Blue Devils (7-3).

With 12.7 seconds left and the game tied at 49, Duke drove the length of the court and Chante Black missed a turnaround. Cheek got the rebound and put it in for the game-winner.

Rutgers played Army in the second game of the women's doubleheader, which was the first at Madison Square Garden in 26 years. The last doubleheader at the Garden was played in 1981. With Rutgers, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion and Cheyney State.

Boston College Cruises To 67-44 Victory Over Rhode Island

• Webcast Archived on ACC Select

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College women's basketball team earned its fifth straight victory with a hard fought 67-44 win over a feisty Rhode Island team on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Conte Forum in front of 1,218 fans.

Freshman Stefanie Murphy led the Eagles with 26 points and 14 rebounds, earning her sixth double-double of the season. Freshman center Carolyn Swords notched 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while sophomore Ayla Brown added 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior Brittanny Johnson finished with seven points, five rebounds and three assists.

Boston College went up 44-25 early in the second half behind a 12-2 run highlighted by a deep three-pointer by Ayla Brown and a traditional three-point play by Brittanny Johnson. The Rams never recovered from the Eagles spurt as the Eagles lead grew to 20 points after a lay up by Murphy at 9:49. BC shot 44 percent from the field in the second half and held the Rams to 20 percent from the field.

Last Chance Free Throws Push Demon Deacons Past Western Carolina

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - It came down to the wire, but the Wake Forest women's basketball team pulled out a 55-52 win over Western Carolina on the Catamount hardwood Saturday afternoon. The victory sets the Demon Deacons at 9-1 for the season.

Wake Forest stifled the high scoring Western Carolina (5-2) offense, which boasts a season average of 76 points per game.

"I'm really happy with the win today," Wake Forest head coach Mike Petersen said. "We made a great defensive effort. For us to hold them to 52 points on their home court is a great achievement for us."

Miami Falls Short in Comeback Bid Against Houston

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The University of Miami women's basketball team (4-5) came from 17 points down to lead the Houston Cougars (5-6), but two late free-throws sealed the 63-62 win for the visitors at the BankUnited Center.

With 8:13 left in the game the Hurricanes found themselves down 58-41. Four straight three-pointers, two from freshman Epiphany Woodson and two more from Maurita Reid pulled Miami to within five with four minutes to go.

The final eight minutes saw the `Canes apply an effective full-court pressure, forcing nine turnovers to get back into the game.

Senior Albrey Grimsley's jumper with 1:09 left gave UM their first lead of the second half at 62-61. However, on Houston's ensuing possession the Cougar's Twiggy McIntyre drew a foul and hit both ends of the one-and-one.