Nov. 25, 2003
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Dukes (2-0, 0-0) vs. Toledo (0-1, 0-0)
Nov. 25 - 7:00 pm
Toledo, Ohio - Savage Hall
Game broadcast on Toledo Student Radio 88.3 FM, and over the internet at
www.wxut.utoledo.edu About the Dukes
The Dukes enter the contest 2-0 and face their third opponent in a five-day span. Candace Futrell leads the Red & Blue with 19.5 points followed by Loui Hall with a 7.5 ppg average. The last time DU began a season 2-0 was during the 2000-01 slate.
About the Rockets
Toledo looks for its first win of the season after a heartbreaking 50-49 loss at the buzzer to visiting Detroit Sunday in its season opener. Tied 24-24 all the at the half, but any advantage the Rockets put up, Detroit soon cut as both teams battled for bragging rights. Toledo's Danielle Bishop led the squad with 15 points followed by Kelly Walker with a 13-point effort. Bishop led the team with eight rebounds, three assists and posted a game-best four steals. Toledo was out-rebounded 37-32 and struggled at the free-throw line hitting 12-19 for a .632 accuracy. The Rockets held a 13-12 edge in steals while both teams committed 27 turnovers.
The Series
Toledo holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with the Dukes. They first met in the 2000 season with the Rockets taking a 57-52 edge at the Palumbo Center. They met last season with the Dukes snagging a 63-60 margin at the Palumbo Center on Dec. 9.
Last Game
Duquesne improved to 2-0 on the season with a 66-63 victory over visiting Robert Morris in the home season opener. Candace Futrell led the Dukes and tied the game-lead with 24 points while Maria Stankevich added 10 points and a game and personal-best 11 rebounds. Nicole Sinclair added 10 rebounds while Shiri Sharon dished out a team-best five assists. The Dukes trailed 32-34 at the half, but outscored the Colonials 34-29 in the second frame to secure the win. The Dukes outrebounded Robert Morris 43-35. DU shot .339 (21-62) from the field while RMU posted a .385 (20-52) effort.
Next Game
Duquesne travels to the West Coast over Thanksgiving to compete in the University of San Francisco Tournament. The Dukes open play on Friday facing Kentucky at 6:00 pm Pacific time and will face either the host Dons or Davidson on Saturday. The consolation tip is 6:00 pm with the championship game beginning at 8:00 pm Pacific.
Pre-Season Atlantic 10 Picks
Duquesne was picked to finish fourth in the West Division of the Atlantic 10 in the 2003-04 Atlantic 10 Pre-Season Coaches and Media Poll. The Dukes finished in a tie for fourth in the West last year with a 15-14 overall mark and a 7-9 A-10 record. Two Dukes have been named to the 2003-04 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Pre-Season honors. Senior Candace Futrell (Altoona, Pa./ Altoona) has been named a first team pre-season selection while freshman Loui Hall (Masontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) has been chosen as a pre-season All-Rookie pick. Duquesne finished the 2003 campaign tied for fourth in the West Division of the Atlantic 10.
Duquesne Probable Starters Toledo Probable Starters | No. | NAME | YR | POS | HT | PPG | RPG |
| 10 | Danielle Bishop | FR | G | 5-9 | 15.0 | 8.0 |
| 13 | Julie Hillis | SR | F | 6-0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 21 | Karin Hoogendam | JR | C | 6-3 | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| 12 | Mary Blessing | SR | G | 5-8 | 9.0 | 2.0 apg |
| 20 | Kelly Walker | SR | G | 5-9 | 13.0 | 1.0 |
The Last Time They Met
Freshman Aiga Bautre led the Dukes with a career-best 18 points while Beth Friday notched her 37th career double-double with 16 points and a game-best 11 rebounds as Duquesne (6-1) took a 63-60 victory over visiting Toledo (4-2) Dec. 9 at the A.J. Palumbo Center. The victory marked the sixth-straight for the Red & Blue. Kelly Walker led Toledo tying the game-lead with 18 points. Duquesne took an early 9-4 lead before Tia Davis hit a three-point goal to cut the Dukes' lead to 9- 7 at 15:30. Duquesne expanded its margin to 16-9 at 13:08, but saw the lead cut to 16-11 on two made Toledo free throws at 12:33. The Dukes then went on a 21-0 scoring barrage and held the Rockets scoreless for 8:17 to take their largest lead of the game (37-11) with 3:33 remaining. During that span, Toledo connected on just 4-of-25 shots (.160). UT hit five unanswered points over the next two minutes before Bautre's three-point goal with :26 gave the Dukes a 40-16 lead they would take into intermission. Toledo came out strong and determined in the second half and cut the lead to a 39-50 reach out-scoring the Dukes 23-10 in the first 11:13 of action. A Toledo three-pointer and goal off a steal got UT within a 50-57 reach with 4:00 remaining. Friday hit two key free throws to give Duquesne a 59-50 cushion with 3:37 on the clock. Toledo's press and pressure defense slowed the Dukes down as the Rockets out-scored Duquesne 9-2 to get within a 61- 60 reach with just :34 ticking. Friday again came through at the line hitting both free throws at :19 for a 63-60 lead. The Dukes' executed good defense and denied an open shot as Toledo attempted a tough three that fell short to give the Dukes the victory. Duquesne shot .512 (22-43) for the game to Toledo's .351 (20- 57) and out-rebounded the Rockets 37 to 26 for the contest. The Dukes gave up 23 points on 22 turnovers while UT committed just 12 turnovers in the game.
Comparatively Speaking
Here is how Duquesne and Toledo compare statistically
| 2004 | GP | FGM | FGA | PCT | RBS | AST | BLK | ST | PPG |
| DU | 2 | 43 | 123 | .350 | 38.5 | 24 | 8 | 20 | 63.5 |
| UT | 1 | 15 | 44 | .341 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 49.0 |
Facing Tough Competition
The Dukes ended the 2003 season 15-14 overall. Five of those falls came at the hands of teams ranked or receiving votes in the Associated Press or ESPN/USAToday Top 25 polls. The teams which defeated Duquesne post a combined mark of 203-128 for a .613 winning percentage. Non-conference opponents were 80-43 (.650) while the A-10 teams boasted a 123-85 (.591) combined record.
Bright Futrell
All-America candidate Candace Futrell became the first Duquesne player to compete in USA Basketball Team Trials when she was invited to participate this past summer. The 5-10 guard did not make either of the 12-member rosters, but had the chance to compete with some of the top talent in the country. A total of 60 student-athletes were on hand looking to make the elite cut. One of the top scoring threats in Duquesne history, she entered her senior campaign with 1,047 career points, even after missing eight games last year with injuries. Futrell averaged 19.5 ppg as a junior and stands 10th on the Duquesne career list with 1,086. The quick and agile guard could surpass Darcie Vincent as the #2 scorer with 1,538 points. Futrell would need to net 462 markers to do so. The all-time scoring title is held by 1998 graduate Korie Hlede, who netted 2,631 over her four-year career.
Duquesne Career Points Leaders
1 Korie Hlede 2,631 1995-98 2 Darcie Vincent 1,538 1989-92 3 Beth Friday 1,410 2000-03 4 Kris Sebastian 1,374 1991-94 5 Kathy Ridilla 1,312 1986-89 6 Amy Alger 1,306 1986-89 7 Becky Oglevee 1,292 1983-86 8 Katie Collins 1,186 1987-90 9 Chrissi Stough 1,152 1981-8410 Candace Futrell 1,086 2001-present
Sharon Becomes Fourth to Hit 500 Assists
Shiri Sharon posted a DU and Atlantic 10 best 6.6 apg average last year, which also stood 12th in the NCAA. She became the first player at Duquesne over the past nine-years to record 12 assists when she did so at Xavier marking a career high and a league single-game best mark. On the season she had four total games with double-figure dishes. She moved into fourth all-time at Duquesne in just her third season dishing out 505. Sharon also has 744 career points and is on track to be the first Duquesne player to reach 600 career assists.
Duquesne Career Assists Leaders
1 Korie Hlede 570 1995-982 Darcie Vincent 555 1989-923 Becky Oglevee 528 1983-864 Shiri Sharon 515 2001-present5 Michelle Bouldin 446 1992-94
