DURHAM, N.C. -
Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) scored 14 of her 15 points in
the second half, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team was
defeated by nationally-ranked No. 4 Duke, 73-32, Sunday afternoon at Cameron
Indoor Stadium. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 3-8, while the Blue Devils
remain undefeated at 11-0.
The Hawks' next-leading
scorers were Betsy Gadziala (Whiteboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) and Shira Shecht (Pardessiya,
Israel/Hadassim) with four points each. Paalvast and Gadziala also had six
rebounds apiece.
Tricia Liston led Duke with
15 points, while narrowly missing a double-double with nine rebounds. Chelsea
Gray added 13 points, while Haley Peters completed a double-double of 11 points
and 10 rebounds. Elizabeth Williams had a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with
seven points.
Duke scored the game's first
six points, before Paalvast converted 1-of-2 free throws. Shecht made the Hawks'
only field goal of the half at the 10:06 mark, making the Duke advantage15-3.
The Blue Devils scored the final 14 points of the half to take a 29-3 edge into
the locker room at halftime. Gray led the Blue Devils with eight points at the
half, while Liston added seven points and eight rebounds. Williams grabbed 10
rebounds prior to the break.
Monmouth held Duke, which
entered the game shooting 51.4 percent, to a season-low 32.3 percent (10-31) in
the first half. However, the three points scored in the first half tied an NCAA
Division I record for the fewest points in one half, set by Savannah State in
2003 against Florida State, and equaled by Tennessee State two years ago
against Georgia Tech.
In the second half, the Hawks
responded to four quick Duke points by getting a Gadziala lay-up and
consecutive three-pointers from Paalvast. However the Hawks would draw no
closer than to within 27 points the rest of the way, and Duke built a lead of
as many as 46 points with 3:28 left in regulation.
For the game, the Blue Devils
outshot the Hawks, 42.9 percent (27-63) to 23.1 percent (12-52) from the floor,
36.4 percent (4-11) to 25.0 percent (4-16) from long range and 71.4 percent (15-21)
to 36.4 percent (4-11) from the free-throw line. The Hawks shot 40.7 percent
(11-27) in the second half after a 4.0 percent (1-25) showing in the first
half. Though Duke turned the Hawks over 29 times, Monmouth took it away from
the Blue Devils 24 times.
The Hawks open Northeast
Conference play Saturday at Mount St. Mary's. Opening tip from Knott Arena is
scheduled for 3 p.m.
