You know what I’ve been thinking? Duke’s women’s basketball team sported an upset Sunday, and wouldn’t have done it without a little bit of Peabody.
Former Peabody High hoops standout Oluchi Okananwa, a freshman on the Blue Devils, was named Atlantic Coast Conference Sixth Player of the Year this season, but decided that wasn’t enough.
In Friday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament, Okananwa made the most of her 22 minutes to help Duke eliminate Richmond, 72-61. She scored eight points, hauled down eight rebounds, and dished out four assists.
Fast forward two days to Sunday and Duke upset Ohio State, 75-63, erasing a 16-point first-half deficit. She recorded another four points, two rebounds, three steals, and an assist in just 13 minutes.
Okananwa – who, during the regular season, led Duke in rebounds per game (6.1), was second on the team in steals (42), and third in scoring average (9.6) – looks to remain strong against the winner of Monday’s showdown between UConn and Syracuse.
Oluchi, that’s two down. Good week.
