North Carolina Cuts Down No. 1 Duke

North Carolina, ranked 12th, put the clamps on No. 1 Duke with a 56-51 victory, limiting the Blue Devils to a season-low 13 first-half points Monday night in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

“Their pressure really bothered us, their traps,” Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors said. “We didn’t do a good job adjusting. I give all the credit in the world to their defense.”

Led by Monique Currie, who scored 22 of her 24 points in the second half, the Blue Devils (18-2, 4-1 in the ACC) rallied from a 26-13 halftime deficit to come to within two points of the Tar Heels (15-3, 3-2), at 53-51, with 55 seconds left. But Duke’s Alison Bales missed two free throws that would have tied it, and North Carolina’s 5-foot-6 Ivory Latta came up with the rebound and was fouled. Latta, who had a team-high 13 points, made both of her free throws, and the Blue Devils missed their final three shots.

Duke made only five of 30 shots (16.7%) in the first half. Their 13 points were within two of a school-record low set in 1981. The 51 points also were a season low for Duke, which had a previous low of 59 in a two-point win Dec. 2 at Tennessee. It was the first win for the Tar Heels in the school’s 20 tries against top-ranked teams.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and wins and losses are wins and losses,” Coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “As a coach, I look at how we play. They’re a great team, and this is a great victory for us, but it’s not life or death.”

No. 14 Boston College 92, Providence 47 -- The Eagles (14-2, 5-0 Big East Conference) pulled away with a 28-0 run after the Friars (1-16, 0-6) made a three-point shot in the opening seconds at Providence, R.I.

No. 21 Florida State 81, Virginia Tech 78 -- Alicia Gladden converted a three-point play with 2:18 left in the second overtime to lead the Seminoles (18-2, 5-1 ACC) at Blacksburg, Va. The Hokies (12-5, 2-3) never led in the second extra period.