DURHAM, N.C. -- Lexie Brown scored 21 points, six combing in the last 2 1/2 minutes, and No. 19 Duke turned back Wake Forest 59-51 on Wednesday night in the first game since injured starter Haley Gorecki was lost for the season.

Gorecki, a 6-foot sophomore guard, was sidelined with a left hip injury after playing just nine minutes in the Blue Devils' last game and missing the game before that. She was averaging 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the 11 games since becoming a starter. Earlier in her career she missed a year-and-a-half with a right hip injury.

Wake Forest (11-13, 3-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 28-27 at the half as Elisa Penna had 15 of her 23 points. Brown's 3-pointer started a 10-0 run that helped Duke (19-6, 8-4) to a 39-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Blue Devils made 8 of 13 shots in the final quarter and Wake Forest 4 of 13 with four turnovers.