Liston scores 20, Duke earns 21st straight NCAA tournament opener by routing Winthrop 87-45

Duke's Elizabeth Williams blocks a shot by Winthrop's Schaquilla Nunn, also guarded by Duke's Oderah Chidom, during the first half of their first-round game in the NCAA basketball tournament in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted Richardson) (The Associated Press)

Duke's Tricia Liston, left, and Haley Peters, right, fight for a rebound with Winthrop's Samiya Wright during the first half of their first-round game in the NCAA basketball tournament in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted Richardson) (The Associated Press)

DURHAM, N.C. – Tricia Liston scored 20 points and Duke routed Winthrop 87-45 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Freshman Oderah Chidom added 17 points for the second-seeded Blue Devils (28-6).

They didn't miss a beat in their first game in nearly two weeks: They never trailed, shot 54 percent and led by double figures for the final 33½ minutes in winning their 21st straight NCAA tournament opener.

In giving the 15th-seeded Eagles (24-9) their worst loss of the season by far, Duke built a 49-23 rebounding advantage and held them to 27 percent shooting — 21 percent in the decisive first half — to advance in the Lincoln Regional bracket.

Big South player of the year Dequesha McClanahan had 22 points to lead Winthrop in its brief first NCAA tournament appearance.