- Reigan Richardson scored 22 points, Ashlon Jackson added 13 points and Duke dominated the second half in beating No. 14 Virginia Tech 63-46 on Thursday night.
Duke (12-5, 4-2 ACC) improved to 16-3 when playing the Hokies at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including a 66-55 victory last season.
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Jackson scored the opening eight points of the third quarter, giving Duke its first lead of the game at 27-26 with 7:47 left in the frame. The Blue Devils had a three-point lead when a hard collision, while going for a loose ball, sent Virginia Tech point guard Georgia Amoore to the locker room with 6:36 left in the third and she did not return. The Blue Devils scored 19 of the next 24 points to pull away.
Elizabeth Kitley made Virginia Tech’s only three field goals of the third quarter. She finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Virginia Tech (13-4, 4-2). The Hokies didn’t reach the 50-point mark for the first time since Jan. 23, 2022.
Virginia Tech scored the opening 13 points of the game before Duke made its first field goal - after missing nine straight shots - with 2:27 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies only scored two points in the opening five minutes of the second quarter as Duke got within 20-12.
Virginia Tech turned it over 11 times in the first half, the last leading to a fast-break layup by Richardson with 15 seconds left to get Duke within 26-21 at the break. Kitley kept the Hokies in front after making 6 of 7 shots for 12 points, while the rest of her teammates combined to go 5 for 19.
Former Duke standout Jasmine Thomas announced her retirement from the WNBA earlier Thursday following a 13-year professional career.
Duke plays at No. 4 North Carolina State on Sunday in the second of three straight ranked opponents.
Virginia Tech hosts Clemson on Sunday.