DURHAM, N.C. - There hasn’t been much “D” at Duke lately. Elizabeth Williams and the Blue Devils hope that problem is over now.

Williams had 17 points and 11 rebounds while keying the defensive effort that helped No. 7 Duke beat No. 8 Maryland 84-63 on Monday night.

“I can’t remember the last time we had a full, 40-minute defensive effort” like this, Williams said.

Alexis Jones had a season-best 22 points, including a career-high five three-pointers, for the Blue Devils (23-3, 10-2 ACC), who shot 53 percent.

Duke avoided its first consecutive losses since 2007-2008 and dodged its first three-game home slide in more than two decades.

And the Blue Devils did it with defense.

Williams blocked three shots while taking “more elbows than an overworked plumber,” Coach Joanne P. McCallie said.

Duke became the fifth team this season to outrebound Maryland, establishing a 44-37 advantage on the boards, and held the Terrapins to a season-worst 32 percent shooting.

Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Maryland (20-5, 8-4).

Thomas missed eight of her first nine shots, but managed to make three in a row to help the Terrapins close to 53-48 with just under 11 minutes remaining.

Duke followed with three consecutive three-pointers - one by Tricia Liston, two by Jones. Liston added two free throws to make it 64-48 with 8:17 left.

Maryland didn’t get closer than 11 after that.

Freshman Lexie Brown had 13 points and Alicia DeVaughn added 10 for the Terrapins.

NO. 2 NOTRE DAME 87, GEORGIA TECH 72

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Jewell Loyd scored 27 points, Natalie Achonwa added 21, and Notre Dame (25-0, 12-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) held Georgia Tech (17-9, 7-6) to 31 percent shooting.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Aaliyah Whiteside, who scored a career-high 21 points.

SWAC WOMEN ALCORN STATE 57, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 48

Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 27.5 percent (14 of 51) from the field in a loss to Alcorn State in Lorman, Miss.

The Lady Lions were led by Carlisha Walker’s 12 points. Christina Lasane and Jazmyne Victorian each had eight points. Victorian also grabbed 11 rebounds.

The game was tied at 22-22 at halftime, but Alcorn State outscored UAPB 35-26 in the second half. Tierro Frost led the Lady Braves, scoring 13 of her 17 points from the free-throw line. Henrietta Wells added nine points and 10 rebounds.

SWAC MEN ALCORN STATE 57, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 54

Alcorn State (10-15, 7-6 Southwestern Athletic Conference) held off Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-16, 7-6) in Lorman, Miss.

The loss snapped the Golden Lions’ five-game winning streak.

UAPB shot 19.4 percent (6 of 31) in the first half and trailed 30-19 at halftime.

Marcel Mosley scored 16 points to lead the Golden Lions. Ghiavonni Robinson added 15.

Devontae Hampton and LeAntwan Luckett each scored 16 points for the Braves.

SUN BELT MEN GEORGIA STATE 68, TEXAS STATE 41

ATLANTA - Ryan Harrow had 17 points and reached 1,000 career points as Georgia State (18-7, 11-1 Sun Belt Conference) bounced back from its only conference loss to beat Texas State (7-18, 3-9).

Manny Atkins added 15 points to come within seven points of the same career milestone for the Panthers.

After a slow start for both teams - the Panthers led 6-5 after 10 minutes - Georgia State finished the half with a 10-0 run to take a 28-14 lead.

R.J. Hunter had 12 points and Curtis Washington scored 10 for the Panthers.

Sports, Pages 20 on 02/18/2014