Duke Women’s Basketball Crushes Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Duke women’s basketball team wrapped up a two-game road swing in impressive fashion Thursday evening at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., with an 88-58 thumping of Syracuse.
With the victory, Duke improved to 10-9 overall and 4-4 in league play, while the Orange fell to 9-9, 3-4.
Senior Leaonna Odom led the Blue Devils with 23 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Odom, who is from Lompoc, Calif., collected her second straight game with 20 or more points and 13th career double-double.
A native of West Haverstraw, N.Y., freshman Jaida Patrick came off the bench to register a career-high 11 points, while graduate Haley Gorecki collected 17 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Redshirt freshman Mikayla Boykin drained 5-of-6 treys and had a career-high 15 points.
After Syracuse scored the opening points of the contest, junior Jade Williams scored six straight for the Blue Devils. Duke then went on another 8-0 run that was propelled by three-pointers from sophomore Miela Goodchild and Boykin and Duke led 18-7. The Blue Devils featured a 12-point lead at one point, before holding a 21-11 advantage at the end of the first.
Duke erupted for 28 second-quarter points and closed with a 16-5 run to lead, 49-28, at the half. Boykin, who hails from Clinton, N.C., hit 4-of-4 from downtown in the quarter and posted a career-high 15 first-half points to pace the Blue Devils. Duke hit 60.0 percent from the field and Odom hit 6-of-7 field goals for 12 points.
The Blue Devils’ 49 first-half points was a season-high while adding 14 assists on 18 buckets. Gorecki chipped in nine points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Patrick and Odom each scored seven third-quarter points to lead the Blue Devils. Duke would end up holding a 71-48 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. Patrick, who was playing in her home state for the first time as a Blue Devil, had a career-high nine points over the first three quarters.
The Blue Devils held the Orange to 10 fourth-quarter points to finish off the impressive league win. Duke shot 49.3 percent from the field for the game and held a 46-28 advantage in points in the paint.
Syracuse was led by Kiara Lewis with 14 points.
Duke will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first of three straight home contests Sunday, Jan. 23 as the Blue Devils host Georgia Tech at 2 p.m., live on ACC Network Extra.
Press release provided by Duke Athletics Senior Associate Sports Information Director Lindy Brown.
Feature image provided by Lawrence Davis III.