GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – When Georgia Schweitzer says she wants
the ball, her Duke teammates have learned to listen.
Schweitzer scored 25 points, including eight straight in a
pivotal second-half run, to lead the fourth-ranked Blue Devils to a
72-56 victory Sunday over Florida State in the semifinals of the
Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
|  | | Georgia Schweitzer went 10-of-19 from the field, including five 3-pointers, in Duke's win over Florida State on Sunday. |
"I told my teammates in practice (Saturday) that I wanted the
ball," Schweitzer said. "They did a great job of getting it to
me."
Schweitzer gave Duke a similar command in Friday's 75-68
overtime victory over Wake Forest in the quarterfinals. She scored
a career-high 27 points in that game, so coach Gail Goestenkors
instructed the Blue Devils to listen to their senior point guard.
"Georgia is to the point where she wants the ball and can
demand it," Goestenkors said. "She's a great leader and I have
full faith and trust in her. If she says she wants the ball, I make
sure they get it to her."
Goestenkors credited the combination of Schweitzer and center
Rochelle Parent for leading Duke into Monday's championship game,
where the Blue Devils (27-3) will be playing for their second
straight ACC tournament title.
"They played like champions, like leaders," Goestenkors said.
"They would not let us lose – Georgia on the offensive end and Ro
on the defensive end. They were the difference."
Duke fed Schweitzer early in the first half when she scored 17
points as Duke took a 38-36 lead into the break.
The Blue Devils broke open a close game at the start of the
second half with a 14-1 run. The Seminoles missed their first seven
shots of the half and turned the ball over six times while falling
into a 52-37 hole.
But Florida State (18-11) snapped its slump with a 10-1 run that
cut the score to 53-47 with 7:55 to play. That's when Schweitzer
took over, scoring eight straight points to put the Blue Devils
back in command.
Schweitzer, who had 17 points in the first half but was held
scoreless through the first 13 minutes of the second, hit
consecutive 3-pointers to stretch Duke's lead to 59-49. Her jumper
with 5:34 to play made it 61-50.
Schweitzer finished 10-of-19 from the floor, making five
3-pointers. Parent, despite a strained hamstring, tied her career
high with 13 rebounds.
"We couldn't find an answer for Georgia," Florida State coach
Sue Semrau said. "We tried to play zone defense on (Schweitzer)
early because we thought if we could keep an eye on her. ... But
she stepped up. And I thought we played pretty good defense on
her."
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Florida State Clubhouse
Duke Clubhouse
Wolfpack beat Tigers for first ACC title berth in 10 years
ACC tournament schedule
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