SAN JOSE, Calif. -- If only for 24 hours, the Duke men have their women counterparts as role models.
The Blue Devils women (29-6) used a 13-3 run early in the second half to move within a game of a national championship by beating Georgia (27-7), 81-69, in a semifinal yesterday.
And the Duke disappointment in San Jose for falling short of that goal will match that of the team in St. Petersburg, Fla., if it should stumble.
"We've believed that [possibility of winning a national title] from Day One," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I don't think any of our players questioned that. We talked about winning the national championship. We visualized it. We're not surprised."
Duke will meet Purdue, which beat Louisiana Tech, 77-63, in last night's second semifinal.
Duke had four players in double figures -- led by four three-pointers and 22 points from guard Nicole Erickson. The Blue Devils hit a Final Four record nine three-pointers and shot 51 percent from the field in addition to keeping the Miller twins -- Kelly and Coco -- in check as they scored 13 and 18 points, respectively.
Going into the game, the question for Duke was how to avoid getting beaten by the Miller twins, guards who combine for an average of 36 points. On Thursday, Goestenkors said it was important not to let both guards get into a flow.
On offense, Duke seemed to find open looks on both the inside and the outside, shooting 55 percent (5-for-9) from three-point range. Erickson and forward Georgia Schweitzer hit consecutive three-pointers, capping a 12-2 run that ended at the 14: 50 mark with the Blue Devils leading 17-7.
With its star guards relatively shackled, Georgia did manage to get some help from center Tawana McDonald and reserve guard Deana Nolan, who combined for 14 points and helped to outscore Duke 12-3 and close to 20-19 with 9: 40 left in the first half. The Bulldogs eventually took a 27-25 lead on a Kelly Miller drive with 5: 42 remaining.
But when point guard Hilary Howard -- who had been responsible for corralling Kelly Miller -- re-entered the game at the 3: 34 mark, the game turned in favor of the Blue Devils, who had been dragging since their run earlier in the half.
"While I was on the bench, I noticed that the offense had been very stagnant," Howard said. "My legs were fresh, so I wanted to be a spark and create things."
The senior did just that, hitting two jumpers and assisting on one as part of an 11-3 run to end the half.
With the Bulldogs more aware of Erickson, Schweitzer and Peppi Browne, who combined for 22 points in the first half, they couldn't devote as much double-team attention to the 6-6 Michele VanGorp, who finished with 20 points and nine rebounds.
By hitting a three-pointer and a jumper from 12 feet, she ignited a 14-3 spurt that put the game away for all intents and purposes, with Georgia trailing 54-39 after a pair of Brown free throws with 14: 53 left.
"I think she demanded the ball a little bit more," Goestenkors said. "And we got her the ball, which is always helpful in scoring."
"They hit those threes, so you have to go out," Georgia coach Andy Landers said. "And when you go out, you leave yourself vulnerable inside. It's almost as if you choose your poison."
Georgia got no closer than six points, as it did when Kelly Miller hit two free throws to make the score 60-54 with 9: 10 left.
Pub Date: 3/27/99