Gakdeng, Swartz dominate Duke spoiling Senior night
DURHAM, N.C. – The Boston College Eagles defeated the Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball team 67-51 on Thursday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Senior guard Cameron Swartz led the way for the Eagles finishing with a game-high 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Thursday marked Swartz’s fifth consecutive 20 point game as she leads the Eagles in scoring on the year.
Coming into this contest, Boston College had not won a matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1999.
The Eagles (18-10, 9-8 ACC) came out with a hot start ending the first quarter on a 13-2 run led by forward Taylor Soule, who shot 3-for-3 in the period. Soule scored nine of her 11 points in the first half.
Duke guard Celeste Taylor scored on back-to-back possessions to start the second, trimming the Boston College lead to just six midway through the quarter.
Eagles guard Mikayla Dickens responded with two buckets of her own to close out the half. Dickens put in 16 points and four assists off the bench for BC. Duke trailed Boston College 31-23 at halftime.
Freshman forward Maria Gakdeng sparked a 15-5 run for Boston College midway through the third quarter. Gakdeng was dominant on the defensive end for the Eagles as she recorded a season-high six blocks, breaking the Boston College single season record for blocks. The Blue Devils trailed by 15 heading into the final quarter.
The Blue Devils (16-11, 7-10 ACC) cut into their deficit to start the fourth following a bucket out the gate from guard Shayeann Day-Wilson. Day-Wilson, who is Duke’s leading scorer on the season, led the Blue Devils in scoring with 12 points and dished out five assists.
As Duke attempted to rally back, all momentum shifted to the Eagles as Swartz and Gakdeng erupted for 13 of Boston College’s 17 fourth-quarter points in the final five minutes of the game. Gakdeng put in 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds for Boston College leading to the victory.
Duke looks to end the season on a good note as they go on the road to take on rival No. 18 North Carolina this Sunday at 4 PM on ACC Network.