Blue Devils exorcised

A game preview from North Carolina yesterday predicted, "If Appel dominates and their shooters get any good looks, Duke will lose by double digits."

• Jayne had ten points and ten rebounds – the only double-double of the game.
• Kayla, JJ and Jeanette sank six three-pointers
• Stanford 71, Duke 55

It wasn't easy. The Blue Devils are noted for their aggressive play, and they brought it all to Maples.

Stanford lost the battle of the boards 39-44, but outshot Duke 46.9% - 28.4% and benefited at the charity stripe by making 79% of their free throws.

The score was tied at 17 halfway through the first half. Then Stanford went on a 17-point run, and Duke never got closer than eight.

Kayla is my player of the game with 22 points, three 3-pointers, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. She also made the play of the game – a solo fast break – by tipping a rebound to herself and racing it down the court for a layin.

Nneka played for 39 minutes in spite of receiving a great deal of attention from Duke's tough defenders. She had 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

JJ had 12 points, two 3-pointers and six assists.

Jeanette also played for 39 minutes and had nine points (her three's weren't falling tonight). three rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals.

Ros (and Jeanette) kept Duke's top scorer, Jasmine Thomas, in check most of the time and limited her to 14 points.

Jayne had the aforementioned double-double and some foul trouble. Joslyn came in briefly several times and gave Jayne a rest.

And that was it for Stanford. Tara said at the postgame Q & A session, "This was not a game for experimenting [with the lineup]."

Here are game reports:

• Stanford Downs Duke, 71-55 by Janie McCauley, Associated Press
• Stanford takes care of Duke by Rick Eymer, Palo Alto Online
• Stanford women take down No. 7 Duke, 71-55 by Tom FitzGerald, Chronicle
• No. 2 Stanford women defeat No. 7 Duke 71-55 by Elliott Almond, Mercury News (includes a slide show by Nhat V. Meyer)
• Stanford women get by No. 7 Duke by Jake Curtis

The box score and play-by-play,

No press conference or game highlights videos yet. Maybe tomorrow – look for them on the FBC website.

And more photos:

Jayne lays up a shot Karima Christmas comes up with the ball Karima Christmas shoots over Nneka JJ drives past Keturah Jackson Karima Christmas drives past Nneka Jasmine Thomas drives into Jeanette Ros congratulates Nneka (on surviving?)