Duke's Inside Attack Shifts Momentum in 76-60 Win Over Green Bay
A second-quarter scoring drought in the paint was erased in the third quarter, allowing the Blue Devils to pull away from the Phoenix.
By Luca Stewart ·
No. 4 Duke overcame a competitive first half to defeat Green Bay 76-60 on Tuesday night, marking the season opener for both programs. The Blue Devils trailed only by two points at the halftime break, leading 33-31 against a team that had been selected to win the Horizon League title for the fourth consecutive year. Duke, the preseason favorite for a third straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship, played without all-ACC selection Toby Fournier.
The game's trajectory changed after intermission when Duke established dominance inside the paint. The Blue Devils recorded zero points in the paint during the second quarter but scored 16 in the third period. This offensive adjustment, combined with a defensive stretch that held Green Bay scoreless for the first six minutes of the third quarter, allowed Duke to extend its lead. Jordan Wood and Riley Nelson contributed layups that helped push the margin to 49-37 with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Aaliyah Crump, a transfer from Texas, made her Duke debut with 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Roberson added 15 points and four blocked shots for the Blue Devils. Nelson also reached 15 points. Four players in total finished with double-digit scoring for Duke, which shot 45.3 percent from the field.
Green Bay relied on free throws to stay within striking distance in the second half. Maddy Skorupski led the Phoenix with 16 points and six rebounds, while Kristina Ouimette added 14 points. The Green Bay team struggled from the field after halftime, making only six of 27 shots for a 22.2 percent clip. They converted 12 of 14 free throws in the third quarter to maintain their offensive output.
Duke maintained a 44-31 advantage on the boards throughout the contest, generating 19 second-chance points. The Blue Devils held Green Bay to a maximum lead of 16 points in the late third quarter before the Phoenix failed to get closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay will host Loyola Chicago on Saturday for its home opener. Duke travels to San Antonio to face North Texas on Sunday.
Source: La Voz de Houston
