Nov. 22, 2002

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Dukes vs. Ohio State
November 22 - 7:05 pm
Pittsburgh, PA - A.J. Palumbo Center
On the Web @ www.RedZoneMedia.com

The Game

Tonight marks the season opener for both Duquesne and Ohio State, although the Buckeyes did play host to an exhibition contest. It is the second straight year the teams are meeting as Duquesne made the trip to Ohio last year, but fell 71-57.

The Series

Ohio State holds a 4-0 lead in the all-time series with the Dukes. The teams first met in 1995 in Columbus with the Buckeyes taking a 77-44 victory. The Dukes have hosted Ohio State just one other time during the 1996 season and fell 94-87.

About the Dukes

The Dukes return four starters from last year's 14-15 squad and welcome back a fifth as senior Khalihah Este-Shehu returns after a redshirt season in 2002. Duquesne will face three home opponents over a six day span to open this year's season.

Leading the Red & Blue are pre-season All-Conference picks senior Beth Friday and junior Candace Futrell. Futrell led the team last year averaging 17.9 ppg and added 4.9 rpg. Friday led DU and was second in the league with 9.3 rebounds per game while adding 13.5 points per game as well.

At the point is junior Shiri Sharon. Sharon was ranked 10th in the nation last year with 6.6 assists per game.

About the Buckeyes

Ohio State welcomes back three letterwinners from last season's 14-15 squad led by senior Courtney Coleman who averaged 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. OSU is under the direction of a new mentor as Jim Foster has taken over the reigns after an 13-year stint as Vanderbilt's head coach. The Buckeyes have received votes in both USAToday/ESPN/WBCA Coaches Polls to date.

Three Buckeyes return after being granted redshirts for the 2002 season in junior LaToya Turner, sophomore Caity Matter and freshman Brandee Giffs. OSU won their exhibition bout with BEAC-Siemens, 85-53, behind a 27- point performance from Turner and 23 points from Matter. Turner led the contest with 12 rebounds as well.

Last Time vs. Ohio State

Duquesne dropped a 71-57 decision at Ohio State (2-3) Dec. 2, 2001 at Value City Arena. Candace Futrell led the Dukes with 16 points while Nikolina Pender netted 15 and Beth Friday added 12 in the loss. Pender led the game with a career high six steals while Oxana Shetko and Friday grabbed six rebounds each. DiDi Reynolds led Ohio State with 17 points while Courtney Coleman added 16 points and a game-best 11 rebounds.

The first five minutes of action saw three ties and four lead changes before the Buckeyes grabbed a 15-8 lead with 11:32 to go on 12-4 scoring drive. Ohio State extended its lead to a 22-12 cushion before the Dukes cut the lead to 21-23 after a 9-1 drive. OSU would conclude the period out-scoring Duquesne 16-4 for a 39-25 lead at the half. Ohio State kept at least a 10-point lead in the second period with the last being a 51-41 advantage at the 11:17 mark. Duquesne chipped away at that lead out-scoring the Buckeyes 10-7 for a 51-57 deficit with 5:31 to go, but would not get closer to an advantage thereafter. Duquesne was out-rebounded 41 to 25 for the game. The Red & Blue shot .444 (20-45) from the field and .750 (15-20) from the free throw line.

In the Home Opener

Duquesne is 7-2 in the home opener under coach Durkin and 17-10 all-time. The Dukes fell to West Virgnia in overtime last year, 84-81. DU is 7-3 the past 10 years in the home opener.

To Begin the Season

The Red & Blue post a 13-14 record all-time in season openers and have won the past seven games to begin the season. The last time the Dukes fell in game one was during the 1994-95 slate with an 82- 59 loss at #21 ranked Western Kentucy in the Bowling Green Bank Classic. Coach Durkin is 7-2 for the span as Duquesne fell 66-50 at Pitt in his coaching debut.

Three in Six

Duquesne will open the 2003 season facing three home opponents over a six-day span. In all, the Dukes will play four games in nine days after a trip to Moon Twp. to face cross-town rival Robert Morris in a 2:00 pm tip Nov. 30.

Next Up

The Dukes play host to Lehigh this Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2:00 pm.

Dukes Lose one Starter, But Welcome Back Five

The Dukes lost just one starter to graduation in senior Oxana Shetko (8.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), but return five as senior Khalihah Este-Shehu is back after missing the 2002 season with an injury. Also back as starters are senior forward/center Beth Friday (13.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg); junior guards Candace Futrell (17.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Shiri Sharon (9.8 ppg, 6.6 apg) and senior forward Nikolina Pender (7.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

With the foursome, Duquesne returns 71% (48.1 ppg) of its scoring and 57% (22.5 rpg) of the team's rebounding. In all, the Dukes will have nine letterwinners back for the 2003 campaign.

Captain's Call

Senior Beth Friday and junior Shiri Sharon have been named team captains for the 2002-03 season.

2003 Early Signing

Head Coach Dan Durkin signed "Loui" Hall (Masontown, Pa./ Albert Gallatin) to a National Letter of Intent for the 2003-04 season. Hall, a 6-0 small forward, averaged 26.4 points and 12.1 rebounds as a junior leading her Albert Gallatin squad to a 19-4 overall mark. She netted 30 or more points in five games last year and shot 81% from the free throw line. Hall helped lead her prep squad to the 2000 and 2001 WPIAL sectional championships and enters her senior season with 1,651 career points. She is looking to better the school's current all-time scoring record of 1,938 point, held by her sister Shauntai, who played at Penn State and Rutgers.

Comparatively Speaking

Here is how Duquesne and Ohio State compare statistically.

^ Redshirted 1999-2000 season
+ Redshirted 2001-02 season/stats

The Coaches