Nov. 4, 2004

Duquesne University women's basketball, under the direction of 12th-year Head Coach Dan Durkin, was picked to finish fifth in the West Division of the Atlantic 10 in the 2004-05 Atlantic 10 Pre-Season Coaches and Media Poll. The Dukes finished third in the West last year with a 16-13 overall mark and 10-6 A-10 record. The honors were announced today by the Atlantic 10 Conference at its Media Day held in Philadelphia.

One newcomer was named to the 2004-05 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Pre-Season honors in 5-10 guard Jocelyn Chandler (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown). She is one of five A-10 freshmen named to the All-Rookie team.

Chandler averaged 29.2 ppg as a senior (2nd in the WPIAL) and was considered one of the premier players in Western Pennsylvania in 2004. A 2004 Tribune-Review Terrific 10 and Post-Gazette Fabulous Five selection, she scored 20 or more points in 21 of her 23 games and had nine contests netting 30 or more points. Chandler added 12.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 4.0 assists per game and was lauded as a first team Associated Press All-State Quad-A selection. She helped her Uniontown squad to its first playoff bid in over 20 years in 2001 and scored 2,048 points over her prep career. An All-WPIAL honoree, she is expected to help fill the void left after the graduation of Candace Futrell.

Duquesne returns three starters from last season in Aiga Bautre (9.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Nicole Sinclair (7.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Maria Stankevich (7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Lost to graduation are veteran guards Candace Futrell (21.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg) - the 2004 Co-Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and WNBA draft pick - and Shiri Sharon (8.8 ppg, 5.5 apg), who became the Dukes' all-time leader with 659 assists.

Duquesne opens the 2005 season on Friday, Nov. 19 as they travel to East Carolina for 7:00 pm tip. The home season tips-off Saturday, Nov. 27 as the Dukes host Pre-Season WNIT participant, Bowling Green, at 7:05 pm at the Palumbo Center.