Ninth-ranked Duke takes big first-half lead to win 13th straight against Clemson, 67-41

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Duke uses first-half run to rout Clemson 67-41

CLEMSON, S.C. — Jasmine Thomas and Joy Cheek scored 15 points apiece, and No. 9 Duke opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with its 13th straight victory over Clemson, 67-41 on Thursday night.

The Blue Devils (13-2, 1-0 ACC) won their sixth straight overall and have not lost a league opener since Dec. 9, 2000 — also the last time they lost to the Tigers (9-8, 0-1).

Thomas and Cheek helped the Blue Devils to a 21-6 first-half run, and Clemson never threatened after that.

Shaniqua Pauldo scored 12 points to lead Clemson, which has lost its last 38 games against ranked opponents.

Bridgette Mitchell added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

Duke came in with its top 10 ranking, a solid winning streak this season and a run of success against Clemson that has lasted nearly a decade.

But the Blue Devils couldn’t find their rhythm early on, going 3 of 9 from the field and leading 6-5 seven minutes in.

That’s when Duke showed off the talent that’s made it one of the ACC’s top women’s programs in the country.

Cheek and Thomas got the Blue Devils going over the next 10 minutes with its go-ahead run to gain control.

Thomas got the run started with a driving basket and a foul shot, and Cheek followed with two straight jumpers.

Cheek added a 3-pointer that increased the lead to 22-9, then Thomas followed with a long-range basket of her own. By the time Karima Christmas made two foul shots, Duke lead 27-11 to all but wrap the game up.

Clemson hasn’t beaten a Top 25 program in more than six years, and the Tigers lose their latest chance with some awful first-half shooting.

Shaniqua Pauldo hit the Tigers’ first attempt from the field, but they missed their next 13 shots, a string of futility that lasted nearly 10 minutes until Lele Hardy’s breakaway layup.

Clemson also couldn’t handle Duke’s size, getting outrebounded 48 to 31 and surrendering 23 turnovers.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with a 17-9 run and the lead eventually stretched to reached 30 points, prompting coach Joanne McCallie to send her starters to the bench.

Duke’s intensity didn’t let up, though. When reserve guard Chelsea Hopkins took a charge on Clemson’s Keyrra Gillespie with less than six minutes left, McCallie led the cheers on the Blue Devils’ bench.

Hardy, Clemson’s leading scorer, was held to 8 points — six fewer than her average — on 3 of 15 shooting. Reserve Jasmine Tate finished with nine rebounds and five blocks for the Tigers.

The loss ended a rough stretch for Clemson basketball against Duke. On Sunday night, the Tiger men shot just 5-of-30 and trailed 30-12 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the way to a 74-53 defeat.

The Tiger women did just a bit better in their opening half, shooting 5 of 29.