Nov. 26, 2002
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Dukes (1-1) vs. James Madison (0-1)
November 27 - 5:45 pm
Pittsburgh, PA - A.J. Palumbo Center
On the Web @ www.RedZoneMedia.com
The Game
Today marks the first meeting between Duquesne and James Madison. The Dukes are looking to play off their win Sunday over visiting Lehigh while they, the other Dukes, are hoping to rebound from a 46-58 loss to Tulane. It is Duquesne's third game in six days.
This is first game of a doubleheader with the men's squad taking on Cleveland State 30 minutes following the game's conclusion.
The Series ... Dukes vs Dukes
This is the first meeting between Duquesne and James Madison.
Note: The men's basketball teams could face each other this season as both Dukes are headed to the San Juan Shootout the weekend before Christmas.
About the Dukes
Duquesne returns four starters from last year in Beth Friday, Candace Futrell, Shiri Sharon and Nikolina Pender.
Duquesne is 1-1 entering the contest after falling to Ohio State in the season opener and defeating Lehigh this past Sunday. The Red & Blue are without Khalihah Este-Shehu and Kristin Kalervo who are resting injuries.
Futrell has led the Dukes in both contests knotting 29 and 34 points vs OSU and Lehigh respectively to average 31.5 per game. Beth Friday leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game followed by Futrell's 6.5 average. The Dukes are shooting well connecting on .423 (44-104) of their field goal attempts to date.
Duquesne Probable Starters| No. | NAME | YR | POS | HT | PPG | RPG | Notes |
| 10 | Shiri Sharon | JR | G | 5-7 | 4.5 | 5.0 apg | adds five steals and shooting 40% from the field |
| 21 | Candace Futrell | JR | G | 5-10 | 31.5 | 6.5 | first Duke since 1998 to score 30+ points |
| 31 | Nikolina Pender | SR | G | 6-1 | 2.0 | 5.5 | second with seven assists |
| 40 | Beth Friday | SR | F/C | 6-1 | 13.0 | 8.0 | shooting 46.2% from the field |
| 52 | Erin Wehrle | SO | C | 6-2 | 1.5 | 3.5 | recorded DU's only block vs. Ohio State |
Off the Bench| 30 | Jade Timol | ^ SR | F | 6-0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | averaging six minutes in relief, two boards vs. Lehigh |
| 32 | Andrea Eaton | SR | G | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | averages 2.5 minutes off the bench |
| 35 | Selma Delibasic | SR | C | 6-5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | has seen time in both games in relief |
| 5 | Aiga Bautre | FR | G | 6-0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | first collegiate block vs. Lehigh |
| 14 | Omega Harrington | FR | G | 5-7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | has seen time at point in relief in both contests |
| 34 | Nicole Sinclair | FR | F | 6-0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | is 2-2 from the free throw line |
| 45 | Maria Stankevich | FR | C | 6-3 | 1.0 | 3.5 | first collegiate block vs. Lehigh |
| 00 | Khalihah Este-Shehu | + SR | G | 5-9 | --- | --- | injured |
| 22 | Kristin Kalervo | FR | G | 5-8 | --- | --- | injured |
About the Other Dukes
James Madison welcomes back three starters from last year's squad which was led by Shanna Price's 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. JMU had played in one other game thus far, falling 58-46 to Tulane. Jess Cichowicz led the Dukes with 13 points followed by Nadine Morgan with 12 markers. Lynn Liburd led the game with 12 rebounds.
JMU was picked to finish fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) pre-season poll while Price and Morgan were named pre-season all-conference picks. They finished last season16-12 overall.
Comparatively Speaking
Here is how Duquesne and James Madison compare statistically.
| 2003 | GP | FGM | FGA | PCT | RBS | AST | BLK | ST | PPG |
| DU | 2 | 44 | 104 | .423 | 70 | 29 | 4 | 13 | 56.0 |
| JMU | 1 | 18 | 63 | .286 | 44 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 46.0 |
Duquesne's Last Game
Candace Futrell bettered her career night from Friday netting a personal- and game-best 34 points en route to a 64-48 Duquesne (1-1) victory over visiting Lehigh (0-2) Sunday afternoon at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Futrell is the first player since 1998 to score 30 or more points and the first since Korie Hlede in 1997 (DU '98) to net 34 points.
Beth Friday added 13 points and a game-best nine rebounds for Duquesne as well. Lehigh's Anne Tierney and Mary Hynoski each scored seven points to lead the Mountain Hawks.
The Dukes opened the game strong taking an 11-4 edge with just under four minutes off the clock, but Lehigh chipped away at the lead to get within a 10-13 reach as 14:49 showed. Duquesne answered back with baskets by Nikolina Pender and Friday as well as a three-point goal by Shiri Sharon to extend their lead to a 20-12 DU favor with 11:52 ticking. Lehigh would not get within five points thereafter and Duquesne held a 32-26 edge at the half.
Futrell opened frame two with a lay-up before Lehigh sprang to an 8-0 scoring drive to get within a 33-34 reach of the lead at the 17:40 mark. Duquesne then went on a 10-3 drive of their own over the next six-plus minutes for a 44-36 lead with 10:58 on the clock. Lehigh closest reach of a lead afterward was 39-46 with 10:04 remaining.
Futrell then went on to score 15 of the Dukes' final 20 points as they out-scored the Mountain Hawks 20-7 to end the period. The Altoona, PA native netted 21 of her 34 points in the second half and shot .600 (15-25) from the field for the contest. She was 10-15 from the field (.667) in the second half and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Duquesne out-shot Lehigh .519 (28-54) to .340 (16-47) from the field and held a 39-25 rebounding advantage.
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 crosstown rival Robert Morris in a 2:00 pm tip Nov. 30.
2003 Atlantic 10 Pre-Season Honors
The Dukes' Beth Friday and Candace Futrell have been named to the 2003 Pre-Season All-Atlantic 10 team as voted upon by the league head coaches. Friday was tabbed a first team All-Conference pick and to its All-Defensive team while Futrell was lauded as a second team All-Conference honoree.
Este-Shehu Returns for 2002-03 Slate
Although she is currently resting an injury, Khalihah Este-Shehu, who set a Duquesne single-season free throws made record with 147 in 2001, is back after missing the 2002 season with an injury. The 5-9 guard averaged a team-best 16.0 points and added 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a junior in 2001. She scored in double figures in 24 of her 29 games that year and ranked fourth among Atlantic 10 scoring leaders. She is currently sidelined as she rests an ankle injury.
