Wake Forest University
Duke (ACC Tournament)
Wake Forest Drops To Duke In ACC Quarterfinal
3/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2005
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Mistie Williams and Wanisha Smith each scored 17 points Saturday and sixth-ranked Duke set an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament scoring record in a 107-50 quarterfinal win against Wake Forest.
Monique Currie, the ACC player of the year, and Laura Kurz each added 16 points for the five-time defending champion Blue Devils (27-3), who won its record 16th straight tournament game and stayed unbeaten in the Greensboro Coliseum.
The second-seeded Blue Devils turned in an awesome offensive performance, breaking the previous single-game record of 106 points set by Virginia in a triple-overtime game against Maryland in 1993. Duke also set a record with 12 3-pointers and 62 first-half points, while the 57-point margin was tied for the second largest in tournament history.
Duke advanced to Sunday's semifinals to face the winner of No. 19 North Carolina State-No. 25 Maryland.
Liz Strunk scored 13 points to lead the 10th-seeded Demon Deacons (15-14), who edged Virginia Tech in Friday's first round but were overwhelmed by Duke's shooting and tournament-tested savvy.
Duke held Wake Forest to 25-percent shooting and had a 48-22 rebounding advantage.
The Blue Devils got off to a fast start and never looked back, shooting 68 percent to take a 62-26 lead at the break. And with only eight players on the bench, the Blue Devils' regulars continued pouring it on until the final horn.
By the time it was over, the Blue Devils had led by as many as 60 points and had all but one player in double figures.
Despite the loss, the Demon Deacons are still eligible for post season play, having earned a winning record for the first time since the 1992-93 season. If Wake receives a WNIT bid, it will be the first time since the 1987-88 season to participate in post season action.
AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
