Duke rejoins March Madness, defeats Iona in first round
Duke's Vanessa de Jesus (2) tries to drive the ball past Iona's Natalia Otkhmezuri (1) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Karl B. DeBlaker]
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Celeste Taylor and Elizabeth Balogun each scored 13 points and Duke marked its return to NCAA Tournament action with an 89-49 romp past Iona on Saturday night. It was the first NCAA Tournament win for Duke since 2018, when it last had a spot in the tournament. Kennedy Brown and Jordyn Oliver added 10 points apiece as the Blue Devils shot 57.1% from the field. Third-seeded Duke will face sixth-seeded Colorado in Monday’s second round. Ketsia Athias led No. 14 seed Iona with 20 points. Juana Camilion had 12.
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Duke's Ashlon Jackson (3) drives the ball around Iona's Ketsia Athias (30) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Karl B. DeBlaker
Duke's Reigan Richardson (24) controls the ball in front of Iona's Kate Mager (15) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Karl B. DeBlaker
Duke head coach Kara Lawson instructs her team during the first half of a first-round college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament against Iona, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Karl B. DeBlaker