Showing posts tagged “Bridgette Mitchell”
Mike Potter ·
5 Mar 2010, 6:56 PM ·
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GREENSBORO COLISEUM This is the kind of matchup that more frequently occurs in the championship game of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, or at least in the semifinals.
Not this year.
Defending conference champion Maryland is the No. 9 seed and has already eliminated preseason conference favorite UNC in women’s basketball’s version of a “Group of Death.”
Today’s opponent is top-seeded No. 9 Duke, which has played in the last two finals and looks for its first title in six seasons and the first under Joanne P. McCallie.
Duke won both regular-season meetings - 58-57 in College Park on Jan. 24 and 71-59 at Cameron on Feb. 21, and that old adage about how tough it is to beat the same team three times in a season is at work.
It does prove to be tough, but Duke survives in the final minute to advance 66-64 and set up a semifinal meeting with Georgia Tech on Saturday.
As the final score shows, it wasn’t easy from the outset.
As was the case against the Tar Heels a day earlier, the Terps come out hot.
Maryland’s biggest lead is 11, at 24-13 on a jumper from Anjale Barrett with 13:24 left in the first half.
Duke responds to the adversity with a 10-2 run, tying it at 26-26 on a Bridgette Mitchell layup with 6:21 left in the half.
The Blue Devils take their biggest lead of the period at 37-31 on a pair of free throws from Joy Cheek (pictured) at the 1:42 mark. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, Uncategorized, Women's Basketball Anjale Barrett, Brenda Frese, Bridgette Mitchell, Dara Taylor, Georgia Tech, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Karima Christmas, Krystal Thomas, Lori Bjork, Lynetta Kizer
Mike Potter ·
5 Mar 2010, 3:53 PM ·
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Duke junior guard Jasmine Thomas has received the annual Kay Yow Award as the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Thomas is currently averaging 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.8 steals. She was earlier named a third-team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine.
Thomas is one of four Blue Devils on the squad, which includes grad student Keturah Jackson, senior Bridgette Mitchell and freshman Allison Vernerey.
N.C. State placed two players in senior Brittany Strachan and freshman Marissa Kastanek.
Others named are Boston College senior Ayla Brown and grad student Brittanny Johnson; Maryland freshmen Tianna Hawkins and Diandra Tchatchouang; Virginia Tech senior Lindsay Biggs and freshman Alyssa Fenyn; Florida State junior Christian Hunnicutt; Georgia Tech junior Deja Foster; and Miami freshman Morgan Stroman.
Lindsay
ACC, Duke, N.C. State Allison Vernerey, Alyssa Fenyn, Ayla Brown, Boston College, Bridgette Mitchell, Brittanny Johnson, Brittany Strachan, Christian Hunnicutt, Deja Foster, Diandra Tchatchouang, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Keturah Jackson, Lindsay Biggs, Marissa Kastanek, Maryland Terrapins, Miami Hurricanes, Morgan Stroman, Tianna Hawkins, Virginia Tech
Mike Potter ·
27 Feb 2010, 12:06 AM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Duke is one win from gaining its first No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament for the first time in three years.
But tonight’s opponent for the No. 6 Blue Devils is not an easy one.
No. 21 Virginia, led by probable ACC player of the year Monica Wright, has 20 wins and is in a bye spot for the tournament, and is certain to get an NCAA bid.
Unfortunately because of the unbalanced ACC schedule, this is the teams’ only meeting of the regular season. And the Blue Devils use a big second half to win 83-65, tying Virginia’s worst defeat of the season for their 17th straight victory in the series.
It’s Senior Night for the Blue Devils, and the final regular-season home game for Joy Cheek (pictured), Keturah Jackson and Bridgette Mitchell. And it’s on regional cable TV.
They’ll play at home again, as Duke will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on March 20 and 22. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, Women's Basketball Allison Vernerey, Bridgette Mitchell, Chelsea Shine, Debbie Ryan, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Keturah Jackson, Krystal Thomas, Monica Wright, Paulisha Kellum, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech
Mike Potter ·
11 Feb 2010, 10:26 PM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM It’s another of those big Triangle rivalry games in women’s basketball, and unfortunately the only time Duke and N.C. State will play during the regular season.
It’s the first time first-year Wolfpack coach Kellie Harper has faced Duke, the team to which she lost in her final game as a player at Tennessee. That game denied her stated goal of winning four straight NCAA titles.
No. 8 Duke is holding its annual PinkZone game, wearing pink-trimmed uniforms and encouraging fans to wear as much pink as possible in an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and research to combat the disease.
The Blue Devils will be heavy favorites and probably the toughest opponents the Wolfpack will play during the regular season. With 6-3 Tia Bell among three post players hurt, State has nobody who can come close to looking Duke’s 6-5 freshman Allison Vernerey (pictured) or 6-4 Krystal Thomas in the eye. And the inside mismatches are a big factor as the Blue Devils cruise 70-39. Continue reading »
ACC, Duke, N.C. State Allison Vernerey, Bridgette Mitchell, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Kellie Harper, Krystal Thomas, Marissa Kastanek, Miami Hurricanes, Shay Selby, Tia Bell, Virginia Cavaliers
Mike Potter ·
8 Feb 2010, 10:36 PM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM It’s one more battle to see which blue-clad women’s basketball team is the best in the Triangle - at least for one night.
And both homestanding No. 8 Duke (18-4, 6-1 ACC) and visiting No. 18 UNC (16-5, 4-3) are in a bit of a bad mood.
The Blue Devils’ chances to run the table in the ACC ended on Thursday, when they got slapped in the face with a 61-57 loss at up-and-down Boston College.
Meanwhile the Tar Heels, who once upon a time were favored to win the conference’s regular-season title, have lost two straight including an 80-69 defeat on Thursday night at Miami that may have made the Hurricanes’ season. We’ll see.
It’s the first time they’ve played each other this millennium when both were coming off a loss.
Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie lost her first six meetings with UNC before the Blue Devils won 81-79 last March 1 on Senior Day at Cameron.
The cameras are in the house for ESPN2’s Big Monday. And Duke gives them a show, putting six players in double figures in a 79-51 rout. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Women's Basketball Allison Vernerey, Boston College, Bridgette Mitchell, Cetera DeGraffenreid, Italee Lucas, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Karima Christmas, Keturah Jackson, Krystal Thomas, Laura Broomfield, Miami Hurricanes, Shay Selby, She'la White, Sylvia Hatchell
Mike Potter ·
24 Jan 2010, 10:57 PM ·
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Jasmine Thomas did just about everything she could to win the game for Duke, and she succeeded.
Thomas (pictured) finished with 20 points, including 13 straight in one second-half stretch and the clinching free throw in the closing seconds, giving the No. 6 Blue Devils a 58-57 road victory over a determined Maryland team.
Thomas was the only player in double figures for the Blue Devils (17-3, 5-0 ACC), who have won their first five ACC games in a season for the first time under Joanne P. McCallie as head coach.
Joy Cheek had nine points to go with her 11 rebounds for Duke, which took the lead for good on Bridgette Mitchell’s bucket that made it 55-54 with 1:29 left. Cheek added a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left before Thomas added her last one, making moot Anjale Barrett’s 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Lori Bjork had 11 points to lead Maryland (14-6, 2-4), which has lost three straight.
Duke will host Florida State on Friday night at 8:30.
ACC, Basketball, Duke, Women's Basketball Anjale Barrett, Bridgette Mitchell, Florida State, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Lori Bjork
Mike Potter ·
21 Jan 2010, 10:11 PM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Duke is back in action following Monday night’s blowout loss to No. 1 Connecticut, and it’s a good chance to see how the Blue Devils recover.
Tonight’s opponent for the No. 6 Blue Devils is Virginia Tech, which was picked to finish last in the ACC but had one of its most impressive wins in recent memory a week ago when it shocked then No. 10 UNC 79-64 in Blacksburg.
The Hokies have a local connection in Northern Durham alumna Utahya Drye, and a Duke connection on the roster in Abby Redick, younger sister of Blue Devil legend J.J. Redick.
None of that matters much, as the Blue Devils recover from a slow start to win 69-38 and hold the Hokies to their lowest score ever in an ACC game. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke Abby Redick, Beth Dunkenberger, Bridgette Mitchell, Brittany Gordon, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Karima Christmas, Krystal Thomas, Maryland Terrapins, Miami Hurricanes, Utahya Drye, Virginia Tech
Mike Potter ·
18 Jan 2010, 10:35 PM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM The largest crowd of the season is in the house, the media room is actually crowded and the national TV cameras are here for ESPN2.
Duke has a real opportunity to make history in women’s basketball tonight.
The No. 6 Blue Devils, who have been playing very well for the last month, will host No. 1 defending NCAA champion Connecticut, which has been playing very well for years.
The Huskies boast the reputed top two players in the country in senior center Tina Charles and junior wing Maya Moore, and the national media say they’re unbeatable.
This may be as good a time as any to find out.
About 500 Duke students get free blue or white Duke T-shirts at the door, and the whole football team is here as a group. This is a big deal, and an announced sellout.
But UConn is used to such things, and slowly and methodically completes an 81-48 victory.
Duke provides more fodder for the highlight reel, but the visitors put on a ridiculous shooting exhibition as they go 13-for-25 from outside the arc.
Although the Blue Devils come out shooting poorly they don’t lose contact in the first half as it’s 38-28 at the break.
Jasmine Thomas (pictured) has 11 points for Duke and Kalana Greene 10 for UConn at the half. The Huskies are shooting 50 percent at the break and Duke 39.3, and that’s really the difference at that point. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, Women's Basketball Bridgette Mitchell, Caroline Doty, Connecticut Huskies, Geno Auriemma, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Kalana Greene, Loren Dixon, Maya Moore, Tiffany Hayes, Tina Charles, Villanova, Virginia Tech
Mike Potter ·
14 Jan 2010, 10:56 PM ·
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UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell was right when she talked about it in preseason.
The ACC is pretty balanced this time from top to bottom.
Hatchell’s No. 10 Tar Heels were victims of a big upset Thursday night, falling to Virginia Tech 79-64 at Cassell Coliseum.
UNC (13-3, 1-1 ACC) had been picked to finish first in the conference’s regular-season standings, while the Hokies (11-5, 1-1) were picked 12th and last. It was the Tar Heels’ second straight loss.
In another ACC game matching a pair of ranked teams, No. 7 Duke to a 69-62 win at No. 25 Miami.
Lindsay Biggs’ 19 points led a balanced Virginia Tech offense as the Hokies beat the Tar Heels for the first time since 1984.
Brittany Gordon added 17 points for the Hokies while Northern Durham alumna Utahya Drye (pictured) added 16 and Alyssa Fenyn 10.
Chay Shegog came off the bench for 13 points to lead the Tar Heels, while She’la White added 12 points and Laura Broomfield 11 points with 14 rebounds. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, Women's Basketball Alyssa Fenyn, Bridgette Mitchell, Brittany Gordon, Chay Shegog, Jasmine Thomas, Karima Christmas, Katie Meier, Krystal Thomas, Laura Broomfield, Lindsay Biggs, Miami Hurricanes, Morgan Stroman, Riquna Williams, She'la White, Shenise Johnson, Utahya Drye, Virginia Tech
Mike Potter ·
10 Jan 2010, 4:25 PM ·
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CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Duke returns for its first ACC home game this season, and the opponent is one the Blue Devils have dominated for a long time.
No. 9 Duke will take on a respectable 10-5 Wake Forest team that beat Virginia Tech in its ACC opener on Thursday, the same night the Blue Devils were rolling all over Clemson on the road.
Duke has won 32 straight in the series, and with the ACC’s wacky schedule this will be their only meeting of the regular season.
Wake has a couple of local players on the roster in Lakevia Boykin out of Southeast Raleigh and Asia Williams out of Durham Hillside.
The domination won’t change today, as the Blue Devils win 65-51 for their 23rd straight victory on their home floor.
Wake plays it very tough early on, leading 9-8 on a Secily Ray free throw with 11:14 left in the first half.
But the Blue Devils go on a 27-2 run before Brittany Waters scores the Deacons’ next point on a free throw with 1:20 left in the half.
Wake plays a solid second half, but can’t quite put the result in doubt at any point. The score is 55-41 following a Camille Collier 3-pointer with 6:31 to play, but Duke responds with a 7-1 run to lock it up.
Bridgette Mitchell (pictured) ties her career high with 20 points to lead Duke, adds nine rebounds and makes two 3-pointers in the same game for the first time in her career. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, Women's Basketball Asia Williams, Bridgette Mitchell, Brittany Waters, Camille Collier, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Lakevia Boykin, Miami Hurricanes, Mike Petersen, Secily Ray, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
