The warm Mexican air apparently is doing the Duke women’s basketball team some good.
Jasmine Thomas scored 20 points, leading the No. 10 Blue Devils to a 70-47 rout of Western Kentucky on the first night of the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun.
Thomas had 12 first-half points for the Blue Devils (4-1), going 3-for-4 from 3-point range over the first 20 minutes.
Duke’s biggest lead in the second half was 29 points.
Freshman Allison Vernerey added 10 points for the Blue Devils, while Joy Cheek chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.
Courtney Clifton had 11 points and Lashay Davis 10 for WKU (3-1), which had lost to Duke by only 59-56 in Bowling Green last season.
Duke will face Marquette on Friday at 7:30 p.m. to conclude its play in the Challenge.
