PITTSBURGH – Junior guard Libby Bazelak sunk two free throws with less than 15 seconds remaining to tie the score at 75-75, but Kent State's Megan Carter connected on a floater as time expired to lift the Golden Flashes (1-0) past the Dukes (0-1), 77-75, in the season opener on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena.

Four Dukes registered double-figures in points, as Laia Solé (7-10 FG) and Amanda Kalin (5-6 FT) led Duquesne with 14 points each. Bazelak poured in 13 points after converting the late free throw attempts and connected on 5-of-7 shots from the field. Nina Aho also reached double digits in scoring, finishing with 12 points against the Golden Flashes.

In her first collegiate game, Amaya Hamilton brought down a game-high 10 rebounds, with five coming on the offensive end and five defensively. Solé grabbed seven caroms, which marked just three away from a double-double performance.

With the score tied at 7-7 three minutes into the season, the Dukes offense fired off a 14-2 surge which gave Duquesne a 12-point lead at 21-9. Four Dukes score in the stretch with Duquesne making 6-of-7 shots from the field in that span. Anie-Pier Samson knocked down two 3-pointers in that span. Samson, who missed the entire 2018-19 season, recorded her first points since hitting a triple against VCU on Jan. 7, 2018. The Golden Flashes outscored the Dukes 7-4 the rest of the quarter to cut the deficit to nine at 25-16 after ten minutes of play. The Dukes shot 58.8 percent (10-17 FG, 3-7 3PT) during the first quarter, while holding Kent State to just 29. 4 percent (5-17 FG). 14 of Duquesne's 25 points came in the paint.

Duquesne extended its lead to the highest of the contest to 13 at 29-16 and 36-23 with 4:15 left until halftime, but Kent State closed the quarter on a 13-7 run to cut the Duquesne lead to 45-38 at halftime. The Dukes also posted 14 points in the paint in the second quarter. Both teams were virtually even from the floor, as Duquesne sunk 8-of-19 shots from the floor, while Kent State made 8-of-20.

The third quarter saw both teams trade points through the first five minutes of the frame. With Duquesne up nine points 58-49, KSU whittled the Dukes' lead to just one over the final 4:10, as Duquesne entered the fourth quarter with a 62-61 advantage. Both teams had the majority of their field goals fall through the nylon, with KSU shooting 9-of-15 form the field and 4-of-4 from long distance, while DU countered by shooting 7-of-13 with two triples in the quarter.

The Dukes quickly extended their lead at six after a layup from Solé and a three-pointer from Bazelak. KSU slowly clawed back, as the Golden Flashes trimmed the lead to just one at 71-70 with 4:29 remaining. KSU earned its first lead since the first quarter with 3:12 left at 72-71, but Kalin would tie the contest moments from the charity stripe. KSU put points on the scoreboard next with just 1:35 remaining on free throws.

With just 35 seconds remaining, Angela Staffileno drew a foul and dropped in a free throw to get the Dukes within one of Kent State at 74-73. KSU's Carter made one of two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 75-73. Bazelak drew a foul after driving towards the basket, as the native of Kettering, Ohio came up clutch with two free throws to tie the contest at 75-75.

In the closing seconds, Megan Carter converted the floater to give the Golden Flashes the win.

Duquesne begins a five-game road stretch on Friday, when the Dukes travel to Philadelphia to battle old A-10 rival Temple. Tipoff at McGonigle Hall is set for 7:00 p.m. The Dukes close the weekend at Manhattan College on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
 
NOTES

• The Dukes were hampered by foul trouble late in the contest, with three starters fouling out and a fourth starter that was charged with four fouls.
• Duquesne led on the boards by a 44-30 mark and outshot Kent State by a clip of 47.5 percent to 42.9 percent on field goal attempts.
• KSU recorded 24 points on 21 Duquesne turnovers.
• The Golden Flashes, who were picked to finish third in the MAC in the preseason poll, were led in scoring by Lindsey Thall's 22 points. She nailed 6-of-9 attempts from 3-point land.
• The game marked the first-ever game for the Duquesne women at PPG Paints Arena.