ESPN Women's Basketball

DURHAM, N.C. -- It doesn't happen after every game Tennessee plays … but most of them. The opposing coach looks at the rebounding statistic and needs Alka-Seltzer. Or Excedrin. Or both. Or maybe something stronger than either.

The names and jersey numbers change as the decades of dominating play go by, but Tennessee's rebounding prowess doesn't. And more than anything, that's what sunk Duke in the Blue Devils' 67-64 loss to Tennessee on Monday.

Duke was beaten on the boards 40-29. And that was enough to off-set the fact that the Blue Devils shot better from the field than Tennessee (44.1 to 40 percent), had fewer turnovers (17 to 23), more assists (14 to six) and a smart and generally well-executed defensive plan.

Abby Waner was in tears as soon as the game ended. Wanisha Smith hung her head a lot in the postgame news conference. The veteran guards, their teammates and coach Joanne P. McCallie all realized they had seen a very good chance to beat Tennessee slip away.

"It would have been huge -- in front of a big crowd," said Duke center Chante Black, who along with freshman guard Jasmine Thomas led Duke with 13 points each. "It's just the way it falls, but it would have been great if we would have won this game."

Black was in single coverage against Candace Parker with 22 seconds left, and Parker scored to give Tennessee a 66-64 lead. Parker had received the ball in great position, and Black was asked what she was thinking when that happened.

"Um … like, 'God, don't let her score,' " Black said, with a sad chuckle. "But she did. Usually there is a double team coming. And it wasn't there. That's one thing we have to work on -- just making sure we execute all the way down to the last second."

True, but how about looking at a lot of the things the Blue Devils did right?

First, though … OK, all right … there's no avoiding the "elephant" in the room. At a full-house party of 9,314 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a key person who has been at all nine previous Duke-Tennessee games wasn't in attendance.

She's busy in Austin, Texas, now, but the "ghost" -- if you will -- of coach Gail Goestenkors lingers, especially on a night like Monday. It was against Tennessee that Goestenkors' Duke program got its first truly monumental victory: in the 1999 East Regional final.

Plus, her team had beaten Tennessee the last three times the programs had met, including a 75-53 pounding in the most recent game in Cameron, in 2006. In this first season with Goestenkors no longer at Duke, there are just going to be those moments at Cameron where her absence is as palpable as her presence used to be.

But this is McCallie's program now, and let's get to the things her Blue Devils can build upon after this loss.

The late mistake against Parker aside, Duke played well defensively. Parker and Alexis Hornbuckle said it was one of the best defensive performances they've faced this season.

There was the play of freshman guard Jasmine Thomas (13 points) and sophomore wing Keturah Jackson (six points and three rebounds). Both really can provide the Blue Devils a lot with their quickness.

Smith had 12 points and played the most minutes for Duke (34.) Joy Cheek had six points and eight rebounds.

And then there's Waner, who had some of the most creative (and effective) passes of the night but who is still struggling with her shooting. She was 2 of 8 from the field, 1 of 6 from 3-point range. That one make from long range was a big one, practically bringing the house down when it tied the score at 64 with 47 seconds left.

Waner then missed a 3-pointer with nine seconds left after Parker had put Tennessee in front again. Parker could have sealed the game at the line with three seconds remaining, but made just one of two free throws. That gave Waner a chance for a heave at the basket from just beyond halfcourt. And she did hit the rim, but was off-line.

Waner takes all losses hard, and it was obvious this one clobbered her. Whether Waner is getting the same offensive opportunities under the new staff as she did under the old one … well, that's a hot topic among Duke fans.

But regardless of that and other debates among the Blue Devil faithful, the fact remains that Duke did have an opportunity to win this game. And there were plenty of observers out there who didn't think that would be the case. So Duke can take heart in that. … The positives moments from this loss ought to be what Duke carries away from it. Duke showed it's still one of the top programs … a feeling the Blue Devils need to carry with them. Because a week from now is another Big Monday game: North Carolina visits Cameron.

Mechelle Voepel of The Kansas City Star is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. She can be reached at mvoepel123@yahoo.com.