TCU
Duke (NCAA Tournament)
Women's Basketball Falls To Top-Seeded Duke, 76-66
3/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 17, 2002
By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer
DURHAM, N.C. - Alana Beard had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Monique Currie scored 22 as top-seeded Duke beat eighth-seeded TCU 76-66 in the second round of the East Regional on Sunday for its 20th straight win.
The Blue Devils (29-3) advanced to the round of 16 for the fifth straight year. They will face the winner of Sunday's game between No. 4 Texas and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara next weekend in nearby Raleigh.
Duke got off to a slow start but increased the pace with fullcourt pressure midway through the first half. The Blue Devils gradually pulled away from the Lady Frogs (24-7), leading by as many as 16 in the second half.
Beard struggled early but got 18 points in the second half to score 20-plus points for the eighth consecutive game.
Currie had 14 points in the first half, while reserve Krista Gingrich had 12 points and three 3-pointers.
TCU, which beat ninth-seeded Indiana on Friday, closed to 59-51 on a 3-pointer from Ebony Shaw with 4:11 to play. But Gingrich answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession.
TCU got as close as eight four other times, but could not get closer. Duke went 10-for-12 from the free-throw line in the final 72 seconds.
Kati Safaritova scored 24 to lead TCU, which jumped out to a 12-6 lead. Duke then went to a fullcourt press, which led to two quick turnovers. Currie hit four free throws and a 3-pointer, followed by a Beard turnaround jumper that tied the game at 15 with 9:41 left in the half.
The Blue Devils gained a cushion with an 8-0 run late in the half, taking a 27-18 lead on a layup by Wynter Whitley with 4:22 to play and leading 34-23 at halftime.
