DURHAM, N. C. -- The nation's No. 1 team found out Monday night what it will take to win a national championship. The No. 2 team showed it.

Second-ranked Duke was too quick, too deep and too determined for No. 1 Tennessee on Monday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Urged on by a relentlessly loud crowd, the Blue Devils struggled to a seven-point lead in a sloppily played first half, then overwhelmed the Lady Vols in the last 20 minutes for a 75-53 victory.

"Losing is one thing," UT coach Pat Summitt said. "Losing the way we lost is quite another. It's unacceptable in this program."

UT has suffered lopsided regular-season losses before only to avenge them in the postseason. Duke can vouch for that.

The Lady Vols lost to Duke 76-55 in November of the 2002-03 season, then defeated the Blue Devils 66-56 in the Final Four.

But catching up to these Blue Devils in the postseason will be a monumental challenge.

Summitt has repeatedly pointed out her team's defensive shortcomings, which were glaring in the second half against Duke. Maybe the team will heed her words after a blowout loss. But even if the Lady Vols improve defensively, that's no guarantee they can win a rematch -- if there is one.

Duke is decidedly quicker, and that was apparent from the outset Monday night. In fact, it was evident to Duke coach Gail Goestenkors before Monday night.

"That's something we felt like we had to take advantage of after watching game tape," Goestenkors said. "They're real big on the perimeter but not particularly fast.

"(Alexis) Hornbuckle is (fast) but (Sidney) Spencer and (Shanna) Zolman aren't particularly fast, and we felt like they would have a tough time matching up against our guards."

Duke guard Lindsey Harding had 15 points, eight steals and four assists. Fellow guard Wanisha Smith had seven points and six assists. Freshman guard Abby Waner came off the bench to score 10 points and assisted on three other baskets.

Waner was just one example of Duke's reserve strength. Backups Chante Black and Jessica Foley combined for 18 points.

"I think we wore them down," Duke senior Monique Currie said. "Coach G (Gail Goestenkors) kept subbing in new players and we were able to keep running and running. They weren't subbing as much as we did, so we had fresh legs."

Summitt and her players didn't buy into the fatigue factor.

"I think this team is in great shape," Summitt said. "I think they got frustrated and when that happens, some times you give in."

The Lady Vols didn't just give in. They caved in.

And that's a bigger concern than fatigue.

What you saw from the Lady Vols against Duke was what you have witnessed in their worst losses to Connecticut. They looked dazed and intimidated.

"I expected them to make a comeback," Harding said. "They're Tennessee. They play with a lot of heart."

Not this time.

There wasn't even a hint of a comeback. Instead, the Lady Vols played as though they couldn't wait for the clock to run out. Just bringing the ball up court became an ordeal.

The Lady Vols won't play an opponent as talented and tenacious as this one unless they make it to the Final Four. Certainly, this drubbing should provide motivation.

But the outcome could have a bigger impact for Duke, which hasn't always responded so positively to a marquee matchup of this magnitude. Three years ago, an unbeaten Duke team faltered badly in a 77-65 loss to Connecticut before a sellout crowd at Cameron.

"We weren't comfortable in that environment then," Goestenkors said. "We were comfortable tonight."

Comfortable, confident and comeback-proof.