Mike Potter ·
8 Nov 2009, 5:03 PM ·
2 Comments
UAA's Hanna Johansson tries to get past Duke's Allison Vernerey. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Duke plays its final exhibition game of the women’s basketball season, and it looks as if the opponent might be capable of giving the No. 6 Blue Devils a strong challenge.
Alaska Anchorage, which is ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II preseason coaches’ poll, went 31-4 last season and looks to have a big season in the far-flung Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
The Blue Devils’ mascot is wearing a headband that says “Drill Baby Drill,” a reference to the most famous female basketball player in Alaska history.
Duke is still playing without senior wing Keturah Jackson, who should be back to start the regular season. But none of that matters as the Blue Devils end up with a 100-32 victory. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, Women's Basketball Alaska Anchorage, Alexis Rogers, Allison Vernerey, Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Hanna Johansson, Hawaii Hilo, Houston Baptist, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Joy Cheek, Karima Christmas, Keturah Jackson, Krystal Thomas, Nikki Aden, Sarah Herrin, Tamar Gruwell, Tim Moser
Mike Potter ·
8 Nov 2009, 12:23 AM ·
Comment
Both Durham universities will host exhibition games in women’s basketball this afternoon.
It’s the last of the season for both, and for N.C. Central it’s also the first.
Duke, ranked No. 6 in both major preseason polls and led by preseason All-ACC guard Jasmine Thomas (pictured), will host Division II power Alaska Anchorage at 2 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium, while NCCU will entertain former CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith at 4 at McLendon-McDougald Gym.
UAA’s Seawolves are ranked No. 8 in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and went 31-4 last season.
Johnson C. Smith was ranked No. 1 in the Western Division in the CIAA’s preseason poll.
Duke will open regular-season play on the road Friday night at Houston Baptist.
NCCU, which will be without last season’s top scorer and rebounder Jori Nwachukwu as she recovers from foot surgery, will begin regular-season action on Saturday at Maryland, which was ranked No. 21 in the preseason coaches’ poll. Continue reading »
ACC, Basketball, Duke, N.C. Central, Women's Basketball Alaska Anchorage, Blaire Houston, Chasidy Williams, Demetria Bell, Jasmine Thomas, Joanne P. McCallie, Johnson C. Smith, Joli Robinson, Jori Nwachukwu, Joy Cheek, Kiki Taylor, Nicci Miller, Tim Moser, Vanessa Taylor, Wendy Stywalt
