College basketball

Women: Host Duke blows out Colo. St.

By wire services
Published December 23, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. - Abby Waner enjoyed playing against some familiar faces.

Waner, a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., had 23 points - including five 3-pointers - and six assists to lead No. 2 Duke to a 99-52 victory over Colorado State on Thursday night.

"I try to approach each game with the same attitude, but, yeah, it is fun to play against people you know," Waner said.

Waner set the Duke freshman record for 3-pointers, and her 8-for-15 shooting overall led the team's 50-percent shooting (35-for-70) from the field.

Colorado State coach Jen Warden is glad Waner left her native state. As an assistant at Colorado, Warden tried to recruit Waner to Boulder.

"If I had succeeded, she'd be playing against us for Colorado right now," Warden said. "Abby has always been something special. She was always been a great shot. She was always a great "chemistry' player. What impresses me so much is how physical her game is now. She's tougher now."

Duke coach Gail Goestenkors admitted she was worried about her team's physical play, pointing out to her Blue Devils (9-0) they were listed among the NCAA leaders in fouls (174) and turnovers (161).

"Those two numbers stood out for me," Goestenkors said.

The Blue Devils started slowly Thursday, holding a 13-12 lead 6 minutes into the game, but went on a 31-3 run in the final 13:58 of the first half.

"We really started to get after them," Goestenkors said. "Once we became more aggressive and intense, that's when we started to score more points."

Duke led 54-18 at halftime and Colorado State (5-4) never threatened after that. The Blue Devils outscored Colorado State 40-10 in the paint.

Melissa Dennett had 16 points and 10 assists for Colorado State (5-4), which lost for the third time in four games.

Duke limited Colorado State to 17-for-47 shooting (36 percent) and scored 46 points off the Rams' 33 turnovers.

Warden was left impressed with Duke's thoroughness in dominating the game.

"This is the best team we've ever played," Warden said. "No offense to Texas Tech, no offense to Sheryl Swoopes, but this team is better."

NO. 6 MARYLAND 70, GEORGE MASON 33: The Terps' tenacious man-to-man held host George Mason to one field goal over nearly 121/2 minutes in 22-4 run late in the first half.

NO. 7 OHIO STATE 90, CANISIUS 58: The host Buckeyes shot 48 percent and forced 31 turnovers.

NO. 8 CONNECTICUT 86, HOFSTRA 49: The host Huskies had 23 steals, and freshman point guard Renee Montgomery had a career-high eight, two shy of the school record.

WASHINGTON 77, NO. 10 STANFORD 72: Brooke Smith scored a career-high 24 for the host Cardinal but missed a free throw with 9.8 seconds left that would have cut Washington's lead to 3. The Huskies' Andrea Plouffe then made two free throws to seal the win.

NO. 12 ARIZONA ST. 83, ARIZONA 59: Kristen Kovesdy and Jill Noe each scored 13 for the visiting Sun Devils, who won their seventh in a row.

NO. 14 DePAUL 78, NORTHWESTERN 58: The host Blue Demons put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run early in the second half that stretched their lead to 57-32.

NO. 17 MINNESOTA 66, IOWA ST. 61: Shannon Bolden's 3-pointer put the host Gophers up to stay, 58-55, with 1:51 left.

NO. 19 VANDERBILT 70, LA SALLE 57: The Commodores led by as many as 23 points in the second half before La Salle used a 22-6 run to get within 54-47 with 10:15 remaining.

NO. 25 TEMPLE 52, VILLANOVA 43: The host Owls outrebounded Villanova 45-30 and outscored the Wildcats 36-12 in the paint.

UT 60, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 40: Shaneisha Walton scored 13 of the host Spartans' first 15 points en route to a career-high 21.

[Last modified December 23, 2005, 01:14:13]