PITTSBURGH – Led by a balanced offense and a stifling defensive performance, the Duquesne Dukes overpowered Central Connecticut State, 72-33, at Oakland Catholic High School on Tuesday night. Duquesne's 33 points allowed matched a Division I era best (since 1983-84), which was set against N.C. Central (78-33) on Jan. 7, 2008 and was matched again against St. Bonaventure (61-33) on Feb. 7, 2013.

Laia Solé led the Dukes (5-2) with 21 points (10-15 FG), which set a new personal Duquesne-high and matched her overall collegiate career-best. The transfer from Maine posted 21 points twice as a Black Bear against Albany and Vermont during her freshman season.

Angela Staffileno posted her first career double-double, tallying 16 points (6-14, 3-6 3PT), while setting a career-high with a 11 boards. Staffileno came off the bench and dropped 13 points in five minutes of action in the first quarter, making her first five attempts from the field, including three from long range.   

All 10 Dukes that appeared registered at least one point. Precious Johnson recorded her best point total to date, tallying nine points, while taking eight caroms off the glass in a near double-double effort. On he birthday, Amanda Kalin also earned eight rebounds, while Solé had seven boards.

The Dukes led 57-45 off the glass in total. Duquesne's 57 rebounds are the most for the Dukes since grabbing 61 against Saint Francis on Nov. 30, 2017. Duquesne earned 20 points on the Blue Devils' 23 turnovers and led CCSU 40-20 in points in the paint and 31-15 in bench points.

After CCSU took the first lead of the game with the first field goal of the game, Duquesne embarked on a game-altering 24-5 sprint, as Staffileno's 13 points in the first quarter paced the Dukes' offense. CCSU's four points in the first quarter tied a Duquesne school record, as Mount St. Mary's could only muster four points against the Dukes at the Palumbo Center on Nov. 12, 2018. CCSU was held to shoot just 2-for-17 on field goals in the frame, while the Dukes capitalized and shot 52.9 percent (9-for-17, 4-of-7 3PT).

The Dukes outscored the Blue Devils 16-12 in the second quarter and put the game away by holding the Blue Devils to just four points once again in the third quarter, as Duquesne led 61-21 heading into the final quarter. The four points allowed by Duquesne set a new school record for points allowed in the third quarter.

CCSU outscored Duquesne 12-11 in the fourth, but the Dukes defeated the Blue Devils by 39 points in its fifth consecutive win in a 72-33 victory over the Blue Devils.

The Dukes are off from competition until Tuesday, Dec. 4, when the Duquesne heads to Akron for a 10:30 a.m. tip at James A. Rhodes Arena.