Women's Basketball Opens With Loss at Top-Ranked Duke
November 22, 2002 | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- With a showdown against Tennessee looming this weekend, top-ranked Duke got 24 points from Alana Beard and opened the season with a 108-46 victory Friday night over East Carolina.
Beard, who led six Blue Devils in double figures, scored 17 points in the first half. Mistie Bass finished with 13 points, Jessica Foley 12, Brooke Smith 11, and Iciss Tillis and Sheanna Mosch 10 apiece.
Beard was 7-of-10 from the floor with six steals and six assists. She made five of her first 10 shots to pace Duke to a 63-20 lead at the break.
East Carolina's entire offense in the game's opening 10:37 consisted of one 3-pointer apiece from Tali Robich, Jennifer Jackson and Ayana McWilliams. Robich led the Pirates with 13 points.
Duke never trailed after Tillis hits three straight baskets to spark a 22-2 run with 12:16 left in the first half. Two 3-pointers hit 1:53 apart by Vicki Krapohl helped push the margin to 37-9 with 9:37 remaining before halftime.
Duke hasn't lost a season-opener since a 104-74 defeat at the hands then-No. 3 Connecticut in 1998.
