Triangle Sports Roundup – July 2019

Latest sports notes with connections to the Triangle

editor@trianglesportsnet.com

Basketball

Duke Graduate Gray Impressive in WNBA All-Star Game

Duke Women’s Basketball – 7/27/19

In the 16th annual edition of the WNBA All-Star Game, former Duke guard Chelsea Gray helped lead Team Wilson to a 129-126 victory Saturday afternoon in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Los Angeles Spark knocked off Team Della Donne and WNBA teammate Nneka Ogwumike in her third-straight All-Star appearance, her first as a starter.

The floor general scored eight points on 4-11 shooting from the field.

Per usual, it was Gray’s vision that separated her, dishing out a game-high 10 assists in the matchup of the league’s best.

Gray also grabbed five rebounds on the night.

While appearing on the big stage Saturday, Gray also made a cameo in the three-point contest Friday night.

Gray wasn’t the only former Blue Devil graduate to make an appearance in Friday’s events as Elizabeth Williams took part in the Skills Challenge.

The Atlanta forward knocked out Brittany Griner in the first round of the event, before narrowly missing the cut to the finals to eventual winner DeShields.

Notes: The WNBA season gets back underway Tuesday as teams make their final half push for a playoff spot….Former Blue Devil Jasmine Thomas and the Sun are in action at 7 p.m., before Williams and Atlanta kick off on Wednesday….The Sparks with fellow Blue Devils Alana Beard and Gray are back to action on Thursday, while Lexie Brown and Minnesota finally gets back to the court on Aug. 3.

Duke guard Goodchild, Australia Wins Silver Medal at World Cup

Duke Women’s Basketball – 7/28/19

In a back-and-forth contest for the gold medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Duke University sophomore Miela Goodchild and her Australia squad dropped a 74-70 overtime tilt to the United States in Bangkok, Thailand.

It marked the first time in 22 years Australia had been in the championship of the World Cup and the Gems came away with the silver medal.

Australia jumped out to as big as a six-point lead in the first quarter, before holding a 23-22 advantage at the end.  The Gems would take a 40-39 lead into the halftime break, after another very competitive period.

The second half would be just as tight as the first, but Australia would go ahead, 64-59, with 2:43 remaining.  The Gems looked like they had the game in control at the end leading 66-63 with 17 seconds left.  Australia’s Isobel Anstey had the ball but was called for an unsportsmanlike foul to give the United States two free throws and the ball.

The U.S. hit one of two free throws and got a jump shot to even the score and send the game into overtime.  Australia was outscored 8-4 in overtime to finish with the silver medal.

Goodchild saw action in nearly 12 minutes, while scoring four points, grabbing four rebounds, one assist and one steal for the Gems.

Soccer

North Carolina FC (USL) – 7/29/19

Coming off a 4-2 victory against Atlanta United 2 last weekend, North Carolina FC is preparing for a pivotal matchup against Indy Eleven in a battle between the third- and fourth-placed teams in the USL Championship Eastern Conference on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Indy (11W-4L-4D, 37 points) holds third place, while NCFC (10W-4L-7D, 37 points) is in fourth.

NC Courage (NWSL) – 7/29/19

The North Carolina Courage will train this week as they come off of a 2-1 win over Utah Royals FC. The Courage are in second place in the NWSL heading into Week 16.

The team will take on the Washington Spirit on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Lacrosse

Williams Joins Duke Women’s Lacrosse coaching staff

Duke Women’s Lacrosse – 7/27/19

Duke University head women’s lacrosse coach Kerstin Kimel announced the addition of Nick Williams to the Blue Devil coaching staff.

Williams joins Duke as an assistant coach following a successful tenure at Georgetown.

“I am so excited to welcome Nick and his wife Ryan to our Duke lacrosse family,” Kimel said.

“Nick has been a steady fixture at our camps over the last eight years so he is very familiar with all things Duke lacrosse. Nick is well versed on the defensive side of the ball and has seen great success running versatile defenses everywhere he has been over the last decade. Most recently, Georgetown’s defensive unit was instrumental in their run to the 2019 BIG EAST Championship.

Nick’s experience, knowledge of the game, passion and enthusiasm for the sport will no doubt serve our players and our program well as we forge ahead into the 2019-20 season.”

Williams brings a wealth of coaching experience to Durham, having spent the past six seasons with the Hoyas.

He served as a volunteer assistant coach for one campaign and an assistant coach for four seasons before being elevated to the role of associate head coach prior to the 2019 campaign.

Golf

Kim Fires 68 in Final Round to finish T7 at Canadian Women’s Amateur

Duke Women’s Golf – 7/27/19

Duke University rising sophomore Gina Kim fired a final round of four-under-par, 68, to close the Canadian Women’s Amateur in tied for seventh at the Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

Kim, who hails from Chapel Hill, N.C., carded rounds of 72, 73, 74 and 68 over four days to finish with a one-under-par, 287.

She notched six birdies in her final round, including three straight on holes 10-12.

It marked the second straight year Kim has placed in the top seven of the Canadian Women’s Amateur as she was tied for third overall in 2018.

Brianna Navarrosa closed with a 68 in the final round to win the title with a 10-under, 278.

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