Jasmine Thomas’ 22 points, late run help No. 8 Duke hold off Virginia Tech, 65-53

Jasmine Thomas leads No. 8 past Hokies, 65-53

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Jasmine Thomas scored 22 points and No. 8 Duke held off Virginia Tech for a 65-53 victory Sunday.

The Blue Devils (21-4, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third in a row, but were tested until the final minutes by the Hokies (13-12, 2-8).

Duke has a 13-game winning streak over Virginia Tech. The Hokies were looking for a second upset on their home court following a win over then-No. 10 North Carolina last month.

Karima Christmas added 15 points and Joy Cheek had 10 for the Blue Devils.

Shanel Harrison had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Hokies. Lindsay Biggs scored 13.

The lead changed three times in the final right minutes before Christmas hit a jumper for Duke and Bridgette Mitchell followed a Hokies miss with a 3-pointer, putting Duke ahead 48-44. With the Hokies in a scoring drought of more than 4 minutes, Cheek and Krystal Thomas scored inside for the Blue Devils and Christmas’ free throw finished off a 10-0 Duke run.

Duke led 41-32 early in the second half and, for the second time, seemed ready to take command, but then went more than six minutes without a point as the Hokies ran off 10 points and took a 42-41 as Harrison capped a three-point play with 7:51 left.

The Hokies never got closer than five again.

The Blue Devils led 20-7 midway through the first half and seemed poised to take command before the Hokies switched to a 2-3 zone and pulled within 30-26 at the half. Biggs scored eight points and Alyssa Fenyn five during the 19-10 run to end the half.

Thomas had 14 points in the first half — and she got her 14th with 5:35 left when the Hokies had just 15 — but only four of her teammates scored in the opening 20 minutes.