DURHAM, N.C. – After leading 11th-ranked Duke to two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) victories and scoring 20 or more points in both contests over the weekend, Blue Devil junior Chante Black was named ACC Player of the Week on Monday. 

The honor for Black is the first of her career and marks the first time a Duke student-athlete has earned ACC Player of the Week this season. A Blue Devil has now received at least one weekly ACC award in 15 straight years. 

Black averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shot last week for the Blue Devils. On Sunday against Virginia, the junior registered a career-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. She hit 7-of-11 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws in the game. The victory for Duke clinched the No. 3 seed for the Blue Devils in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

A product of Winston-Salem, N.C., Black registered 20 points, five rebounds, four steals and one assist in 28 minutes at Virginia Tech on Friday. The 6-5 center hit 7-of-14 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws in the contest.

On the week, Black hit 56.0 percent of her field goals and 82.4 percent from the charity stripe. In addition, Black has started all 28 games this season and has totaled double-figure scoring in 24 of those 28 contests.

Boston College’s Carolyn Swords was named ACC Rookie of the Week.

Duke will next travel down Tobacco Road to face second-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m., in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Blue Devils closed out their home season by defeating Virginia 78-70 on Senior Day.   The win assures the Devils of a third place seeding in the upcoming ACC Tournament.  Wanisha Smith made two free throws with 5:04 remaining in the second half which enabled Duke to pull even at 61 apiece.

Duke then had three consecutive steals, taking advantage of two to go up 65-61.  Two of those steals were made by freshman Jasmine Thomas and the other Careem Gay.  The Blue Devils never looked back after trailing by nine earlier in the half eventually going on a back breaking 11-0 run.

Wanisha Smith hit this key lay up to give Duke a 63-61 lead and the Devils never looked back.

"I think it was defense and learning from our previous games to have to fight to figure out a way when we're down in the second half to get a lead and keep the lead.  Just learning from previous games helped us a lot," said the senior Smith.

The Dukies were led by Chante Black's career high 22 points.  Wanisha Smith added 16 in her last game in Cameron.  She was honored along with Emily Waner at games end.  Duke had a 49-5 record at home during Smiths four year stint.

It seems like just yesterday when I snapped a picture Smith, who was then a rising senior in high school.  She visited Duke with Candace Parker of Tennessee during that recruiting weekend.  Candace got Shelden, but we got Wanisha and she proved to be a solid player over the years.

Duke will now travel to North Carolina to close their season next Sunday.  That game will be televised by Fox Sports Net at 5:50 p.m.  Duke is now 10-3 in the league and 21-7 overall.  Duke tied a season high with 24 free throws made on 30 attempts.  he Blue Devils also forced 22 turnovers, making this the 20th time that has happened this season.

Wake Forest scored their first basket at the 12:43 mark of the first half.  Duke played dominant defense throughout the game holding Wake Forest to 22.8% for the game which was a season low for Duke.  Granted Wake is down three point guards from the start of the season due to injuries.  Still Duke smothered the Deacs with 17 steals while forcing 24 turnovers. 

 Abby Waner scored her 1000th Career Point today!

It's a good thing the Blue Devils defense showed up today, for Duke shot just 17.6% from the three point stripe and 40.3% overall.  Duke was led by Careem Gay's 15 points, while Cheek chipped in 13 and Abby Waner 12.

There was little doubt that Duke would secure it's eighteenth win of the season and boost it's conference record to 7-2.  The Blue Devils will now go on the road to face Clemson on Wednesday before a rematch with Maryland next Sunday.

Abby Waner scored her 1000th career point at the 10:24 mark of the first half.  Waner now has 1004 in her career at Duke University.  Today's game was labeled "Think Pink" to show support for the fight against breast cancer.  Duke held Wake to their season low of 36 points -- 18 in each half.   Duke has now won 31 straight game versus the Deacons and moved to 9-2 at home this season .