EASTON, Pa. – Junior guard Amanda Kalin knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, as Duquesne outscored Lafayette 16-8 in the extra period to come away with its third consecutive road victory, 73-65, on Sunday afternoon at the Kirby Sports Center. The Dukes are now above .500 with a 3-2 overall record, while the Leopards fall to 1-3 on the season.
Kalin supplied a team-high 15 points, which included going a perfect 8-for-8 on free throws. Libby Bazelak totaled 13 points, with seven coming in overtime alone. Anie-Pier Samson totaled a career-best nine points, while Paige Cannon and Laia Solè each added eight points. It was a balanced offensive performance for the Dukes, as all nine Dukes that played recorded at least three points.
Samson grabbed nine rebounds in the near double-double effort. Kalin pulled down eight caroms, and distributed a team-best five assists.
Despite not initially finding success from the field, as Duquesne used a hefty advantage from the charity stripe to stay in the game, as the Dukes made 25-of-36 attempts from the free throw line, while Lafayette converted 12-of-23 attempts.
The Dukes shot 2-for-16 from the field in the first quarter, but managed to get to the foul line 10 times, as Duquesne sunk 7-of-10 shots from the charity stripe. The Leopards led the Dukes 18-11 after the first quarter.
After Lafayette took a 25-14 lead with 6:11 left in the second quarter, the Dukes closed the quarter on an 11-5 run, as Samson recorded five points in the stretch. The Leopards entered the locker room with a slim 29-24 lead.
The Dukes could not cut into the deficit of the third quarter, as the Leopards outscored the Dukes 19-14. The Dukes offense began to click in the third quarter, as Duquesne shot 42.9 percent from the floor compared to 19.4 percent in the first half, but the Leopards extended their lead to 48-39.
Momentum continued for the Duquesne offense to start the fourth, as an 11-3 sprint got the Dukes within a point of the Leopards at 51-50. A Lafayette 3-pointer put the Leopards up four with 3:20 remaining, but the Dukes would not let up. Paige Cannon sunk a crucial contested layup with 1:35 remaining to get Duquesne back within a point at 55-54. Lafayette earned a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to extend its lead back to three, but Kalin came up clutch with her lone 3-pointer of the afternoon to tie the game at 57-57 with barely anytime on the clock. The Dukes shot an impressive 53.8 percent from the floor in the quarter, including its first two 3-pointers of the game.
Lafayette began overtime with leads at 59-57 and 61-59, but the Dukes fired off a game-altering 14-4 run, which was sparked by a 3-pointer from Bazelak.
Duquesne will close its season-long the five-game road trip in the Steel City on Saturday, Nov. 23 when the Dukes visit Pitt at the Petersen Center for the 38th annual City Game.
