North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Duke
Wolfpack Defeated By No. 2 Duke
3/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2003
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Duke made Atlantic Coast Conference history Sunday night.
Alana Beard had a game-high 22 points as the second-ranked Blue Devils beat North Carolina State 86-60, completing a second straight undefeated run through the ACC regular season.
The Blue Devils (28-1) are the first team to go 16-0 in ACC play for two consecutive seasons. Virginia's 1994-95 squad was the only other team to go unbeaten in conference play since the ACC expanded to nine teams before the 1991-92 season.
N.C. State's men's team went undefeated in 1972-73 and 1973-74, the only other time a team has gone undefeated in ACC play for two straight seasons.
"This is a nice day, but it's over now," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. "We are going back to boot camp. We are going back to basics."
Iciss Tillis had 15 points for the Blue Devils, who have won eight straight games since losing to Connecticut 77-65 on Feb. 1. Sheana Mosch scored 14 points and Michele Matyasovsky added 13 as 10 players scored for Duke.
Kaayla Chones had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wolfpack (11-16, 6-10), while Terah James and Amelia Labador each scored 13.
The Blue Devils now turn their attention to defending their ACC tournament title. By winning the tournament for the third straight season last year, Duke became the first women's team in league history to finish 19-0.
"To win the ACC Tournament four times in a row would be incredible, and that's our next goal," Mosch said. "That's what we're going to be focused on for the next few days."
Duke jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead against the Wolfpack and was never seriously challenged. Beard went 9-for-14 from the floor and finished with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Leading 13-8, Duke took charge with a 16-2 run and led 44-24 at halftime. Beard missed her first two shots, but hit seven of her next eight for 16 points in the period. Mosch and Matyasovsky each added nine points in the half.
N.C. State, which shot 9-for-31 in the first half, got no closer than 55-37 on a 3-pointer from James with 14:03 left.
The Wolfpack shot 34 percent for the game and committed 18 turnovers.
"We shot a pretty low percentage in the first half, but then did a little better in the second," N.C. State coach Kay Yow said. "I just wish we could have started a little stronger."
The Blue Devils have won 40 straight ACC games. They haven't lost to a conference opponent since falling to N.C. State 69-55 on Feb. 18, 2001.
