Chapel Hill - The second half of Sunday’s game between Duke and North Carolina women’s basketball team’s featured enough bumps and falls to almost qualify for mixed martial arts.
There were no punches thrown, but these rivals certainly tried to knock each other out. The Tar Heels, which held a one-point half-time lead, prevailed 64-54 in their final game of the regular season, ending a two-game losing streak and winning just its second game in the past nine contest.
Finding its fast-breaking style, the Heels pulled ahead 45-44 near the 10-minute mark of the second half on a steal-and-score play by junior guard Cetera DeGraffenreid. They would slowly build on their lead, outmuscling the Devils on the boards down the stretch and filling the basket, something they had not been able to do over the past three weeks.
DeGraffenreid led the Heels with a game-high 22 points, making 15 of 17 free throw attempts. She attacked the basket with relentless intent, helping to make Senior Day a bit more enjoyable on what was coach Sylvia Hatchell’s birthday.
“This is the best present I’ll ever have,” Hatchell said.
The Heels handed the Devils just their second loss this season. On Feb. 8 the Devils defeated the Heels at home 79-51 and closed out the ACC schedule as the regular season champions.
On Sunday, Duke junior Karima Christmas led the Devils with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Both teams head into ACC Tournament this week (March 4-7), with the Devils as the conference’s top seeded team and the Heels as the eighth seed.
“ACC Tournament look out here we come,” Hatchell said.
Edward joined the News & Observer staff in 2004. He is a graduate of American University and Johns Hopkins University. He covers Wake Forest football and women's college basketball for the N&O. Edward is a native of Washington, D.C. He can be reached at 829-4781 or 
Comments
G-ALLIGATOR--AKA-RED-CAT-69!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:32 — bluecat69bluecat69GOOD TRY!! HOLES -20 CALLED ME THIS WEEKEND AND SAID U WERE GOING TO CHANGE YOUR NAME TO REDCAT--69, U ARE NOT FOOLING ANY-ONE, ALSO U CANT SPELL, OK, BLUECAT- 69---- REDCAT-69, GIVE ME A BREAK, NO IMAGINATION AT ALL !!WHY IN THE HEL- WOULD I COME TO THE COW COLLEGE , WHEN I AM AT THE VERY BEST SCHOOL IN THE SOUTH?? THAT MAKES U LOOK STUPID, OK GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOCAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:40 — redcat69EVERYONE KNOW DKUE IS NOT IN THE SOUTH IT IS IN NEW JERSEY U NEED TO READ UP ON UR GEOGRAPHY MAYBE U SHOULD COME TO STATE WE KNOW OUR GEOGRAPHY!!!!! DO U KNOW WHERE OXFORD IS???????????? I DO BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO GO THEIR ON A ROAD SCOHLARSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Ladies
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:04 — unc098Gettin er done.A precursor to this coming Sat's game. UNC 69, DUKE 66. You heard it here.
BTW
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:33 — gvillegatrwatching the late coverage (by accident) on NBC-17 and they didnt even bother showing high lights! should I be pissed ... nope.
If
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 23:02 — foreverdukeIf the UNC women had won the regular season, are you saying it would be OK not to even acknowledge it. It dosen't make you any less manly to watch womens basketball. Also if you are referring to me as dike you know where you can put your comment. Go Duke!
ACCNOW
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:19 — JPDOhioMost of us posting here understand and accept that this site is and should be devoted mostly to football and men's hoops. Nothing wrong with the other sports. I love baseball and soccer in particular. My daughter played college soccer.
But just look at the threads that generate the most commentary. It's not women's basketball. A separate blog for fans of that sport would be great if there is enough interest. That's what you should be pushing for.
JPD
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:26 — Heels20The perfect mediator. How is it that the most polite person on these boards lives in the north?
it just goes to show
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:37 — gvillegatrthere is a God!
If
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 23:24 — Heels20If you're only going to completely misinterpret my posts, then please don't bother putting time in to make a moronic response. I'm saying that I, as well as the majority of the readers on here, are not losing sleep over the fact that the N&O doesn't spend as much time covering women's basketball. I don't care if the Heels, Pack, Dookies, Deacons, etc. win the regular season. There is nothing wrong with recognizing them for it, but not many people are interested in scrolling through long blog entries covering women's games in order to find what's being said about the Carolina-Dook men's game.
And no, I did not refer to you as dike. That was in reference to bluecat's frequent mis-spelling of Dook at the end of his posts. 25% of the time, it's "go dike!!!" Maybe you would know that if you commented on anything other than the unjust coverage of less popular sports.
HOLES-20!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:48 — bluecat69bluecat69U KNOW WHAT YOU CAN KISS, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!
POOCAT!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:15 — redcat69YOU CAN KISS MY RING FROM 1983 OR YOU CAN JUST WAIT TIL I GET MY ACC TOURNAMENT RING THIS YEAR, WE WILL BEAT DKUE AGAIN LIKE IN JANUARY 88-74 OK GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!
My Point Is
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 21:49 — foreverdukeMy complaint isn't about the game. We lost, outcome would have been different if the free throws had been good. Dosen't matter they are still the regular season champs. I just think they got a crappy write up for their accomplishment and they put a picture in for a regular game. Alot of times there isn't even write ups on the womens games just the score listed. Being a true fan I pull for both the men and womens teams, and if you are a true fan thats the way it should be. I keep up with all the Duke sports. Anyway I have blowed off my steam for the article and could do myself a favor and just not read it anymore. Go Duke!
again
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:27 — gvillegatr"we lost, outcome wouold have been different if the free throws had been good."
sad. very sad. patheitc even. women's bball .......
g-alligator !!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:52 — bluecat69bluecat69GET IN YOUR YUGO, AND COME ON OVER TO DUKE AND WE WILL TEACH U HOW TO SPELL---- "WOUOLD"" WHAT THE HEL- IS THAT?? OK GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOTCAT!!!!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:16 — redcat69DONT TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT HOW TO SPELL U NEED TO COME TO STATE IF YOU WANT TO LEANR THAT OK GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha for real
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:31 — Heels20I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognizes it.
My point is
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 22:05 — Heels20This blog would have fewer readers if it included large blog entries about women's riflery with photos included. I'm a Carolina fan in any sport, but if the N&O covered club gymnastics, the only posts that would be made on here would be bluecat responding to his own previous posts saying "DITTY AND GALLIGATR UR GYMNASTICS TEAM SUKS THEY COULD RLY USE JOHN WALL OK GO DIKE!!!!!!!!!!"
HOLES-20
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:57 — bluecat69bluecat69I CALLED ALLIGATOR AND HE AGREED TO PICK U UP IN HIS YUGO, AND CARRY U OVER TO DUKE FOR OUR SPELLING CLASS 101, OK, WHO IN THE HEL- CARES ABOUT GIRLS BB , BUT TARQUEERS, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOTCAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:18 — redcat69CAN YOU SPELL THE WORD "TRACY"??????????????? I HOPE SO BECAUSE UU WILL SEE THAT NAME A LOT IN THE FUTURE AND WE WILL BEAT U LIKE LAST MONTH OK GO STATE!!!!!!!!!
The Game
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 19:11 — foreverdukeWhat bothers me more about this than losing the game is this, Duke women won the regular season and no. 1 seed in the ACC tournament and only got a puny little maybe three paragraph write up and no pictures. What a sorry job on the papers part to not give them anymore than that on their accomplishment. As far as the game goes Duke beat themselves on the free throw line. They played outstanding defense , but the basket just wasn't kind to them today. Anyway thats my complaint, pitiful write up. Congratulations to the Duke women on their good season! Keep it going in the ACC tournament! Maybe if you win that, you might get a better write up or maybe your picture in the paper. Go Duke! Proud to be a Blue Devil fan!
and ...
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:25 — gvillegatryou wonder why you get picked on (and not protected by your ncsu brethern) here.
low.
not even Mad Max has dipped so low to whine about women's ball.
Hey now...
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:46 — mad_maxCan I get a goaltend?!?
only if i thought
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:55 — gvillegatrit was prudent.
gawd, Allanis Morrisette is still hot!!!
Haha
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 00:47 — Heels20Right on cue.
YEAH!
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 20:52 — Heels20And while we're at it, why don't you do a write up on bluecat's middle school basketball game? It's not fair that they don't receive equal coverage to men's college basketball!
HOLES-20
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:04 — bluecat69bluecat69IF U ARE GOING TO POST ON THIS SITE, GET IT RIGHT, I AM IN MED SCHOOL, NOT MIDDLE SCHOOL, IF U DONT BELIEVE ME CALL YOUR BUDDY UNC-98, REMEMBER HE WAS MY TEACHER, UNTILL HE WHIMPED- OUT, BUT HE DID LOOK GOOD IN HIS TIGHTS AT THE DUKE GAME LAST NIGHT, GO DUKE!!!!
POOCAT!!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:18 — redcat69U KNOW U R IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT HTAT IS GOOD, U STILL HAVE TIME TO APPLY TO STATE, THAT WILL GET U IN TO OXFORD ON A ROAD SCHOLARSIHP OK GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!