The Eagles (4-2) flexed their experience, depth and freshman fortitude in their final game of the five-team Gotham Classic, taking down a Belmont (4-3) program that’s advanced to the NCAA Tournament almost annually since 2006 and reached the second round in March.

Two NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs have earned more conference titles than Belmont since 2006: Kansas and Gonzaga.

Leaonna Odom scored a career-high 25 points, including nine in Duke’s dominant third period, and the fifth-seeded Blue Devils beat No. 12 seed Belmont 72-58 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Duke led only 32-31 at halftime before outscoring Belmont 21-9 in the third period.

Julie McCabe had 19 points and 10 rebounds and No. 22 Belmont became the first team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee-Martin 63-56 in overtime Saturday in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game.

There’s a buzz at Belmont – the Bruins are in the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history.