Duke’s Karima Christmas (13) steals the ball after Jasmine Thomas (5) collides with N.C. State’s Marissa Kastanek (23) during the Women’s ACC Tournament Championship final on Sunday at Greensboro Coliseum.
jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667
GREENSBORO -- The balloons and streamers finally came down for Duke again as the Blue Devils won their first ACC title since 2004 on Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Duke's 70-60 victory ended three years of suffering by the Blue Devils, who had reached the title game in all three without prevailing.
Duke held off a smaller but plucky N.C. State squad that reached the championship game through the sheer will and determination that first-year coach Kellie Harper instilled in her team.
The Blue Devils captured their sixth ACC championship and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that goes along with it. The Blue Devils, who also tied for the regular-season title with Florida State, has a couple of weeks before it returns to action on March 20 in the NCAA Tournament at home.
Duke junior Jasmine Thomas was named the tournament MVP after leading the Blue Devils with 18 points. Senior Joy Cheek and junior Karima Christmas also were named to the all-tournament team.
Blue Devils coach Joanna P. McCallie also became the first Division I coach to win conference tournament titles in four different leagues.
