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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Duke sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa — who came off the bench — notched a double-double to lead the No. 2 Blue Devils past No. 3 North Carolina and advance to their first Elite Eight since 2013.
Okananwa’s team-high 12 points and 12 rebounds played a large role in the Blue Devils storming back from a sluggish start that saw them fall behind 11-0 in the first quarter.
“Offensively I just kept running the floor,” she said. “I kept putting up the shots that I'm confident in taking and that my team and my coaches are confident in me taking.”
In the second quarter alone Okananwa — the MVP of this year’s ACC Tournament championship game — scored eight points, knocking down two 3-pointers. She also grabbed four of her eight first-half rebounds.
READ MORE: Why this Duke player started styling her Blue Devils teammates
“Oluchi continues to be an impact player on both ends for us,” Duke women’s head basketball coach Kara Lawson said. “I thought her two threes in the first half were big to get us confidence. Obviously, she carried the day with her rebounding.”
Duke went on a 21-2 run from the four-minute mark in the first quarter to 1:38 of the second quarter, taking a 28-20 lead into the half. The Blue Devils (29-7) went on to win 47-38.
Okananwa came into Friday's contest averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
The impressive performance for Duke’s 2024 Sixth Player of the Year winner is her second double-double of the season and the fifth of her career. For all five, Okananwa came off the bench.
“I knew we were getting outrebounded, I knew that every time a shot goes up, I need to go in,” Okananwa said. “That's what my team needed from me to win.”
Her most recent double-double before Friday came in Duke’s 76-62 win over North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament title game on March 9. She had 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Next up, the Blue Devils will take on No. 1 South Carolina, which beat No. 4 Maryland, on Sunday.
Wesley Branch is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duke women's basketball beats UNC with Oluchi Okananwa, makes Elite 8
Continue reading...
Okananwa’s team-high 12 points and 12 rebounds played a large role in the Blue Devils storming back from a sluggish start that saw them fall behind 11-0 in the first quarter.
“Offensively I just kept running the floor,” she said. “I kept putting up the shots that I'm confident in taking and that my team and my coaches are confident in me taking.”
In the second quarter alone Okananwa — the MVP of this year’s ACC Tournament championship game — scored eight points, knocking down two 3-pointers. She also grabbed four of her eight first-half rebounds.
READ MORE: Why this Duke player started styling her Blue Devils teammates
“Oluchi continues to be an impact player on both ends for us,” Duke women’s head basketball coach Kara Lawson said. “I thought her two threes in the first half were big to get us confidence. Obviously, she carried the day with her rebounding.”
Duke went on a 21-2 run from the four-minute mark in the first quarter to 1:38 of the second quarter, taking a 28-20 lead into the half. The Blue Devils (29-7) went on to win 47-38.
Okananwa came into Friday's contest averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
The impressive performance for Duke’s 2024 Sixth Player of the Year winner is her second double-double of the season and the fifth of her career. For all five, Okananwa came off the bench.
“I knew we were getting outrebounded, I knew that every time a shot goes up, I need to go in,” Okananwa said. “That's what my team needed from me to win.”
Her most recent double-double before Friday came in Duke’s 76-62 win over North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament title game on March 9. She had 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Next up, the Blue Devils will take on No. 1 South Carolina, which beat No. 4 Maryland, on Sunday.
Wesley Branch is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duke women's basketball beats UNC with Oluchi Okananwa, makes Elite 8
Continue reading...
