Jan. 7, 2007

Waner, Harding Each Score 20 As No. 3 Duke Tops Virginia Tech, 86-54

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - It may have appeared to some observers that Duke was on top of its game against Virginia Tech. Don't count the Blue Devils' coach among them.

Abby Waner and Lindsey Harding scored 20 points apiece in an 86-54 victory over the Hokies on Sunday that kept No. 3 Duke undefeated but with room to improve.

``Overall, I was just disappointed with our effort,'' Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. ``We needed to pressure more.''

Wanisha Smith added 14 points and Carrem Gay had 11 for the Blue Devils (16-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had 32 fastbreak points to four for Virginia Tech (10-7, 1-2).

Xavier takes advantage from the line in win over NC State

CINCINNATI, Ohio - NC State fell behind late in the first half, clawed back to within one point midway through the second stanza, but could not overcome a large free throw discrepancy in a 76-69 loss at Xavier in non-conference women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center.

Khadijah Whittington led NC State (11-5) with 16 points and 14 rebounds, her second straight double-double and 12th of her career. Meanwhile, freshman Chanita Jordan had season-highs with 12 points and eight rebounds, while classmate Amber White had 10 points.

Michele Milled of Xavier (11-4) led all scorers with 26 points (8-13 FG) and nine rebounds. Freshman sensation Amber Harris added 14 points, 12 in the second half, before fouling out in the waning seconds of the game. Suntana Granderson and Joei Clyburn added 13 and 11 points respectively.

A 12-point deficit faced NC State heading into the second half. However, a 3-pointer by Keisha Brown and a layup by Whittington brought the Pack right back into the game, down only seven, 37-30 in the opening minute of the half.

Jackets Earn First Conference Road Win in Two Years, 63-57 Over Clemson

Clemson, S.C. - Chioma Nnamaka and Stephanie Higgs combine for 45 points to lift the Yellow Jackets (10-5) to their first Atlantic Coast Conference road win in almost two years, defeating Clemson (9-8) 63-75 in Littlejohn Coliseum Sunday.

Tech never led in the first half, though they kept it close, but a three pointer by Higgs with 2:54 left in the first gave the Jackets the momentum they needed to come out firing in the second half. Nnamaka opened second half scoring when she nailed sinking back-to-back threes giving the Jackets a 32-28 advantage. The Uppsala, Sweden native, who leads the ACC in three-point field goals with 44, finished with 21 points Sunday, nine of which came from behind the arc.

Just after Nnamka's quick six, Higgs stole the ball and drove down the court for a tough lay up and foul in transition. Higgs sunk her free throw, along with every other attempt from the line Sunday going 11-for-11, and gave the Jackets a four-point lead five minutes into the second half. Higgs fought to the basket for her third three-point play of the game moments later, putting Tech up seven, which was their largest lead of the game thus far. Higgs finished with a team best 24 points and added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Tech saw their steady four-point lead slip away with 1:44 left in the game when Clemson's Lele Hardy was made a jumper and was fouled by Nnamaka. Hardy hit her free throw and the Tigers pulled within two. Moments later, Nnamaka answered with a high-arcing three pointer right in front of the Yellow Jacket bench to go up 59-54.

Seminoles Calm The `Canes, 71-62

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida State women's basketball team earned its third straight win and its third straight win over Miami with a 71-62 victory over the Hurricanes Sunday afternoon in ACC action at the Donald L. Tucker Center. FSU was led by senior Alicia Gladden who had 18 points and improved to 13-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC play while Miami fell to 9-8 and 0-2.

"Miami's always a great rival for us," FSU head coach Sue Semrau said, "and I thought this game proved to be that - a rivalry game. Even though we were able to get a nice lead, I felt like they continued to fight back, and scratch and claw. They did a great job on the offensive boards and that's something we need to address. Alicia (Gladden) and Mara (Freshour), though, we've had three games in six days, and they have turned into two completely different players than they were before Christmas and we wouldn't be doing the things we've been doing without them."

Florida State led the final 28:06 of the game including by as many as 18 points in the second half and gave the 2,123 fans in attendance a lot to cheer about with 10 blocks and with four Seminoles scoring in double figures. Rookie Jacinta Monroe scored in double figures for the third straight game with 13 points and added four blocks while Britany Miller and Mara Freshour contributed 10 points each. Point guard Shante Williams, who played 23 minutes off of the bench as she just recovered from the flu, led the way with nine rebounds and five assists.

The Hurricanes pulled to within single digits in the final 2:12 of the game and were as close as 69-62 with 51 seconds left but the Seminoles continued their fierce defense and Miller grabbed some key rebounds down the stretch. FSU's defense held the `Canes to just 35 percent shooting from the field and caused 20 turnovers.