Tech, ranked No. 20, faced off against the No.10 ranked Duke Blue Devils in a highly anticipated ACC match-up. The game was close throughout, with neither team able to pull away from the other. After gritty performances from both teams, the Blue Devils edged out the Jackets 55-50. The score highlighted the defensive strength of two of the best programs in the ACC.
After impressive back-to-back wins over Clemson and Virginia, Tech looked forward to a highly touted Duke team. The Blue Devils are one of the top teams in the country sitting at No. 8 in NET ranking, while the Jackets are just shy coming in at No. 20. Canadian star and freshman forward Toby Fournier leads Duke in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game, while coming off the bench. Junior guard Ashlon Jackson holds down a starting guard spot, averaging 12.0 points on 40.3% from behind the three-point-line. The Jackets hoped to slow down the Blue Devils offense, with the third-ranked scoring defense in the ACC.
Tech started the game off strong; fifth-year forward Zoesha “Zoe” Smith scored the first points of the game after collecting the offensive rebound. Junior guard Tonie Morgan added on to the lead with a mid-range jumper to make the score 4-0. The score would oscillate for the rest of the first period, with Tech holding the advantage for the entire quarter. The Jackets led 18-17 going into the second period after Jackson knocked down the first free throws of the game to cut Tech’s lead to one.
Tech looked to keep the lead that they earned in the first quarter going into the second period. The Blue Devils answered immediately, going on a 6-0 run to start the quarter. Duke’s scoring run was highlighted by the four second-chance points that the Blue Devils acquired. The Jackets and Smith stopped the bleeding with a jumper to end the Duke scoring run. Both teams continued to answer each other’s shots with neither team able to make a run, and Duke led 31-27 going into the half.
A competitive first half resulted in the Jackets trailing by just four. Tech was led by Smith who scored 10 points while shooting 5-5 from the field. Freshman guard Chazadi ‘Chit-Chat’ Wright closely followed with eight points of her own. If the Jackets were to win the game, their shots needed to start falling. Tech shot 1-10 from behind the arc and a respectable 11-28 from the floor. The Jackets defense held up well against the Blue Devils, holding them to just 12-30 from the field while forcing four turnovers.
Being down at the break, the Jackets looked to answer back. Tech went on a 6-0 run to start the half, giving the Jackets their first lead since early in the second quarter. The Blue Devils answered back immediately to recapture the lead. The score stayed close throughout the quarter, with the game tied at 45-45 entering the fourth period. Smith continued her strong game by collecting the offensive rebound and tipping the ball in to tie the game.
With the game tied at 45, both teams looked to close out with a strong fourth quarter. Tech struck first; senior forward Kayla Blackshear made a layup to give the Jackets a lead. Duke responded the next possession to once again tie the game. The Jackets failed to escape the suffocating Blue Devils defense and scored just three more points in the game. Duke went on a run of their own to compound the misery. The Blue Devils won 55-50.
After a competitive game, the Jackets failed to deliver in the closing moments. Tech went 0-9 in the last 5:13 and 1-17 to end the game — they kept the game close but were unable to secure the win. Smith led the Jackets in scoring with 16 points. Morgan conducted the offense with five assists. The Jackets shot a dismal 1-20 from three-point-range, highlighting a mistimed shooting slump.
Tech looks to use the Duke game as motivation going into their next matchup. The Jackets travel down to Coral Gables, Fla. to take on the University of Miami on Feb. 2, hoping to right the ship against the Hurricanes and return to winning ways.