The ACC refuted claims made by Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson that a men’s basketball was used in the first half of Sunday’s game against Florida State. In a Friday statement from the conference, a “thorough and objective review process” found no evidence to support Lawson’s claim. Here’s what you need to know:
- Lawson broached the topic after the Blue Devils’ win over Pittsburgh on Thursday. She ended the news conference saying that her players were complaining about the ball in the first half of Duke’s 70-57 loss in Tallahassee, Fla.
- The Blue Devils shot 7-for-34 in the first half and 12-for-38 in the second half of Sunday’s game. Lawson emphasized Thursday that the ball did not dictate the outcome of the game.
- The ACC said that per NCAA rules, there is no appeal or protest process for this situation, and the matter is considered closed.
- A women’s basketball weighs 2 ounces lighter and its circumference is about 1 inch smaller than a men’s ball.
The ACC has released a statement regarding the allegations that the first half of Duke’s recent women’s basketball game against Florida State was played with a men’s ball in the first half: pic.twitter.com/7Bh91pwIWj
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) February 3, 2023
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