Dec. 6, 2002

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Dukes (4-1) vs. Towson (0-3)
Saturday December 7 - 2:00 pm
Towson, Md. - Towson Center

The Game

Duquesne looks to win its fifth-straight at Towson while the Tigers hope to snap a three-game losing streak. DU last defeated Pitt 62-60 on Dec. 3 while Towson fell 58-46 at American Dec. 4.

This is just the second road game this season for Duquesne who is 1-0 away from the home hardwood. With seven rebounds, senior Beth Friday (who averages 11.2 a game) will become Duquesne's all-time leading rebounder surpassing Kathy Ridilla's mark of 928 set from 1986-89.

The Series

Duquesne holds a 3-0 lead in the all-time series with Towson. They first met back in 1982 when both were Division II programs. DU took a 70-64 decision over then Towson State. They met in the 1993 season at the St. Francis Classic with the Dukes winning 71-37 and they faced off last year at the Palumbo Center with the Red & Blue taking a 68-44 victory.

Record Watch ... Seven To Go!

Beth Friday is quickly approaching the top of the career rebounding list. With 922 to date, Friday needs just seven boards to surpass Kathy Ridilla's mark of 928. Ridilla, a Duquesne Hall of Fame inductee, also posted 1,312 points from 1986-89.

Friday is expected to be the first to hit 1,000 boards and points at Duquesne. She is 11th all-time with 1,074 points entering the contest and needs just seven points to break into the number 10 slot. Friday will also challenge Ridilla's senior class rebounding mark of 279 boards. Thus far, Friday has bettered each class' rebounding title as she grabbed 297 as a freshman, 298 as a sophomore and 271 last year as a junior.

^ Redshirted 1999-2000 season
+ Redshirted 2001-2002 season

About the Dukes

Duquesne improved to 4-1 on the season with a 62-60 margin over visiting Pitt this past Tuesday behind a 14-point, 14-rebound effort from Beth Friday. It was Coach Dan Durkin's 119th career victory.

Duquesne is without leading scorer Candace Futrell who is expected to be out two weeks with an ankle injury. Duquesne has taken Kristin Kalervo off the injured list to add to the depth of the guard duties.

About the Tigers

Towson enters the contest 0-3 after losing 58-46 at American University Wednesday night. The Tigers were led by Kyva Jones with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Mia Chapman leads Towson with 12.7 ppg. Jones and Kelli Talbot lead the rebounding with 7.0 per game each. Towson is in just its second year as a member of the highly successful Colonial Athletic Association. They were 2-26 overall last season.

Duquesne's Last Game

Freshman Aiga Bautre lead the Dukes tying her personal-best with 17 points shooting 7-10 from the field and 3-3 from three-point range as Duquesne took a 62-60 come-from-behind victory over visiting Pitt (3-1) to improved to 4-1 on the season. Beth Friday posted her 35th career double-double with a game-best 14 rebounds while adding 14 points. Nikolina Pender led the game with a career-best nine assists and added 11 points as well. Pitt was led by Laine Selwyn with a game-best 22 points.

Pitt opened the contest out-scoring Duquesne 10-6 with 14:46 on the clock before the Dukes hit seven unanswered points to take a 13-10 edge at the 11:41 mark. Pitt then took control of the contest and sprang to a 14-0 run keeping the Dukes scoreless for 7:20 for a 24-13 lead - their largest of the contest. Bautre's jumper at 4:21 put the Dukes on the board again with a 13-22 deficit and she would cap a 7-0 run with a three-point goal with :50 ticking to get the Dukes within a 22-26 reach. Selwyn's jumper at :18 gave the Panthers a 28-22 edge at the intermission.

The Dukes' played solid defense to open the second frame and out-scored the Panthers 12-2 for a 34-30 lead with 13:25 remaining and finished the drive with a 23-9 to take their largest lead of the contest (45-37) with just under nine minutes remaining. Pitt hit back-to-back three-point goals to keep them alive and regained the lead via a 14-3 run for a 49- 48 edge at the 5:06 mark. Bautre it another key three for a 51-49 DU lead before the Dukes gained a 53-49 advantage at 4:12 as Shiri Sharon hit two free throws on a Pitt technical. Consecutive treys by Pitt gave the visitor a 57-55 lead with 2:36 remaining before Pender's three put DU up 58-57 with 2:22 remaining. Two ties and two lead changes followed before Friday gave Duquesne a 61-60 edge on a miss and make free throw with :34. Sharon made the first of two free throws at :10 for the 62-60 final, but it wasn't over as a held ball was called with :08 on the missed free throw, which gave Pitt possession at the Dukes' basket. Selwyn drove hard into the paint, but her fell short to secure the Dukes' victory.

Last Time vs. Towson

Candace Futrell led four Dukes in double-figure scoring pouring in 19 points as the Dukes took a convincing 68-44 victory over visiting Towson Nov. 24, 2001 at the Palumbo Center. Beth Friday, Nikolina Pender and Tionda Jennings each added 12 points for the Dukes. Friday led Duquesne with six rebounds while Shiri Sharon dished off a gamebest six assists. Jackie Richardson led Towson with 13 points and while Kyva Jones grabbed seven rebounds.

Duquesne took an early 10-1 lead over the Tigers before Towson went on an 8-1 scoring drive for a 9-11 reach of the lead with 12:56 to go in the first half. Duquesne quickly answered back with its own 8-0 drive for a 19-9 edge at the midway point. Towson got within a six-point reach (21-15) with 7:47 remaining, but the Dukes ended the frame on an 11-1 scoring spree for a 32-16 half time lead.

The Dukes out-scored Towson 19-5 over the first 9:11 of the second half for a 51-21 lead. The Red & Blue would go up by as many as 31 points (54-23) with 8:51 ticking and would not let the Tigers within a 22-point reach with a 60-38 lead with 2:43 on the clock. Futrell would score the Dukes' final eight points for the 68- 44 final.

Duquesne converted 27 points off of 27 Towson turnovers and shot .488 (30-62) for the game to the Tigers' .313 (15-48). Duquesne dished out 23 assists to the opponent's five and snagged 12 steals in the game.

Next Up

The Dukes host Toledo on Monday, Dec. 9 at 7:05 pm at the Palumbo Center. Duquesne will then see an 11-day break for finals before traveling to West Virginia on Dec. 21.

Helping the Community

The Dec. 9 game with Toledo is Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Night. Anyone who brings in a nonperishable food item donation will get free admission into the game.