March 5, 2009
Game Notes
2008-09 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP
#6 DUQUESNE (19-10, 9-5) vs. #11 MASSACHSETTS (12-17, 5-9)
Fri., Mar. 6, 2009 - 8:00 P.M. (EST)
Halton Arena (9,105) - Charlotte, N.C.
STREAMING AUDIO: Red Zone Media with Tad Maurey
STREAMING VIDEO
2008-09 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP: The top 12 regular-season finishers are invited to the Atlantic 10 Championship. The games will be played at the Halton Arena on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte beginning Mar. 6 with the championship to be aired live on ESPN2 Mar. 9 at 5:00 p.m.
HOW WE GOT HERE: Duquesne finished the Atlantic 10 season 9-5 - a four-way tie for fourth place with George Washington, Richmond and St. Bonaventure. Due to tie-breakers, the Dukes got the #6 seed. Massachusetts finished with a record of 5-9, tied for 10th place with Saint Joseph's. The Minutewomen lost the head-to-head matchup with the Hawks and received the #11 seed.
DUQUESNE LATELY: On a program-best six-game conference winning streak … have won eight of their past 10 games … set Division I era record with their 19th regular season win against Rhode Island on Sunday … senior Kristi Little was named the 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well as First-Team All-Conference and to the All-Defensive Team.
MASSACHUSETTS LATELY: Coming off an 82-66 victory against La Salle … are 4-6 in their last 10 games … suffered second-worst home defeat of the season (14 points) in their 75-61 loss to Duquesne on Feb. 14.
THE PATH ONCE TRAVELED: Duquesne defeated Massachusetts in the first round of the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship. The win was followed by an upset of Charlotte in the quarterfinal round. The Dukes eventually fell to Temple in the semi-final round. The exact same scenario could come to fruition this season. If DU defeats UMass, they will face Charlotte. A Duquesne victory over the 49ers coupled with Temple beating the St. Bonaventure/Saint Joseph's winner would set up a Dukes/Owls semi-final matchup.
DUQUESNE'S HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP:
Charlotte: 1-0
Fordham: 1-0
George Washington: 1-6
Massachusetts: 3-3
Richmond: 0-1
Rhode Island: 3-2
Rutgers: 0-3
Saint Joseph's: 0-4
St. Bonaventure: 4-1
Temple: 1-3
West Virginia: 1-0
DID YOU KNOW:Duquesne has won seven of their past 10 A-10 Championship first round games.
