WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- No. 4 Duke shot better, hustled
better and showed Wake Forest how to hit clutch free throws as it
held off the upset-minded Demon Deacons.
|  | | Duke's Sheana Mosch delivers two of her game-high 22 points against Wake Forest. |
Sheana Mosch scored 22 points to lead the Blue Devils to a 66-58
win Thursday.
Duke shot 43.9 percent from the field to Wake Forest's 34.8
percent. The Blue Devils led 63-58 with 1:52 remaining and
converted three of five free throws to hang on for the victory. Wake
Forest missed its last four shots of the game.
Wake Forest coach Charlene Curtis said hustle also made the
difference.
"I thought Duke came out and with intensity in the second half
and we did not have the same defensive intensity, although we
picked it up for the last five minutes," Curtis said.
"We have talked a lot about rebounding and getting to the line
a lot as a team. But we got behind early and it is difficult to
come back against a good team," she said.
Duke (21-1, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) used a 16-6 run to
take a 10-point lead with seven minutes left in the first half.
Wake Forest (11-10, 3-7) chipped away and cut the deficit to
36-33 at halftime on Tiffani Listenbee's basket and free throw with
two seconds remaining.
The Demon Deacons cut Duke's lead to 44-42 at the 14:09 mark,
but failed to score in the next 5 1/2 minutes.
"In the first half, we were flat-footed and settled for outside
shots instead of driving to the basket. You don't get free throws
doing that," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said.
Duke's Iciss Tillis had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
"Whenever I do well on defense, my offense comes," Tillis
said.
Georgia Schweitzer added 16 points and seven assists for the
Blue Devils.
Wake Forest's Eafton Hill scored 13 points and blocked three
shots. Olivia Dardy scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards.
Duke's win halted a five-game home winning streak for Wake
Forest. The contest was the fifth straight ACC game for the Demon
Deacons decided by 10 points or less. Wake Forest is 2-3 in those
five games.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Duke Clubhouse
Wake Forest Clubhouse
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