Day-Wilson Leads Duke Past Pitt in ACC Tourney

GREENSBORO, NC — The Duke University Blue Devils (17-12, 7-11 ACC) overcame a large deficit in the second half, to rally back and defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers (11-19, 2-16 ACC) in the first round of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament. 

 

The Blue Devils were looking to get back on track after a tough loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels (23-5, 13-5 ACC), the team’s bitter rival. 

 

Duke got off to a rocky start, allowing the Panthers to get whatever they want, from all over the floor. The Panthers were shooting 70% from the floor and 2-2 from three-point land early on. The Panthers used this recipe to build a lead as big as 16 in the first half. 

 

The Blue Devils were resilient and fought back in the second half. They outscored the Panthers 33-21, while playing stifling defense, en route to a 55-52 victory. 

 

“They showed a lot of competitive grit tonight in the second half,” said Duke head coach Kara Lawson. “Once we found that aggression on defense late in the second quarter, our pace and effort didn’t dip in the second half.” 

 

Freshman guard and ACC Freshman of the Year Shayeann Day-Wilson was the hero for the Blue Devils. Her game-high 22 points was enough to help Duke make a comeback and advance to the second round of the Tournament. 

 

“Anyone who has watched us play this year knows how important Shy is to our success,” said coach Lawson. “She is a two-way player and plays hard on both ends of the floor” 

 

Junior guard Celeste Taylor was the other player for Duke in double-figures, with 11 points. She also had 5 rebounds. 

 

Pittsburgh’s season has come to an end, despite the efforts of sophomore guard Liatu King, who had 13 points, and junior guard Dayshanette Harris, who had 11 points. 

 

The Blue Devils will be back in action tomorrow evening at 6:00 pm EST against the Miami Hurricanes (17-11, 10-8 ACC), who they beat in January, 58-49.