Duke uses defense to beat Nebraska and advance to Elite Eight

NORFOLK, Va. -- Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie is growing weary of people expecting the Blue Devils to roll over teams in the women's NCAA Tournament.

"We don't want to be pretty, we want to advance," McCallie said after the Blue Devils struggled offensively but used a solid defensive effort for a 53-45 victory over Nebraska in a Norfolk Regional semifinal Sunday. "We want to advance. We want to find a way to keep going."

Second-seeded Duke (33-2) will play top-seeded Notre Dame (34-1) Tuesdaynight for a berth in the Final Four.

Tricia Liston had 17 points and eight rebounds and Alexis Jones had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Blue Devils shook off another slow start by using a 12-0 run to take the lead by halftime and then hang on with their defense.

"Somebody mentioned that we haven't played a great game yet," McCallie said. "It's about time we do. I'm kind of looking forward to that. We've had to gut some things out, handle some things differently."

The sixth-seeded Cornhuskers (25-9), in the round of 16 for just the second time in school history, shot 30.3 percent and hit 3 of 24 three-point tries.

Nebraska, averaging 6.4 three-point makes, made eight just last week in stunning Texas A & M in College Station, Texas. Struggling Duke trailed Oklahoma State by 13 at halftime last week in Durham, N.C., before rallying.

"It can be frustrating at times," Liston said of the offensive struggles, which have been made worse by the loss of All-American Chelsea Gray to a dislocated kneecap 10 games ago. "That's where our defense can come in."

Duke's Elizabeth Williams finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks but missed 10 of 15 shots as Duke shot only 21-for-64 (32.8 percent), including 4-for-16 on three-pointers.

Lindsey Moore led the Cornhuskers with 11 points but shot only 5-for-18 from the floor.