Women’s Top 25: No. 1 Duke downs Cavs

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Lindsey Harding scored 21 points and No. 1 Duke kept rolling toward a showdown with No. 2 North Carolina next week by withstanding a challenge from Virginia in the second half of a 76-61 victory Friday night.

Alison Bales added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils (23-0, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who are off to the best start in program history and won their 68th game in a row against unranked foes. It was their 12th straight victory against the Cavaliers.

Lyndra Littles scored a career-high 28 for Virginia (12-10, 2-6), which closed to 63-56 with 3:57 left. The Cavaliers got no closer and lost their fifth straight league game, one shy of the program record they set last season.

Duke plays at home Monday against Clemson before going to Chapel Hill, N.C., to play the archrival Tar Heels (24-0) Thursday night.

Wanisha Smith added 13 points for the Blue Devils. Monica Wright had 12 points for Virginia before fouling out.

The Blue Devils used a 16-4 run to open a 22-10 lead and never let the Cavaliers closer than nine before halftime. Abby Waner’s 18-footer at the buzzer made it 42-31.