PITTSBURGH – For the second consecutive game, the Duquesne women's basketball team faced a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and found a way to win, downing Kennesaw State, 75-72, on Friday night at La Roche University. The win marked the 10th consecutive triumph for the Dukes (10-2), as Duquesne outscored the Owls (5-5) 27-14 in the fourth quarter to pick up the victory.
The Owls outscored the Dukes in each of the first three quarters, but the Dukes found their shooting stroke in the fourth frame, knocking down 4-of-6 attempts from long range and 9-of-15 shots from the floor overall.
Amanda Kalin posted half of her team-leading 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping spark the scoring sure for the Dukes. Defensively, the Dukes gained extra possessions by forcing eight turnovers in the quarter, while the offense clicked with eight assists on nine field goals.
Joining Kalin in double-figures was Libby Bazelak, who made 4-of-5 attempts from the field and both attempts from long range for a total of 16 points. The Kettering, Ohio native led the Dukes off the glass with eight rebounds, distributed a pair of assists and swiped four steals. Coming off of one of the best scoring performances in Duquesne basketball history last weekend, Laia Solé, registered 14 points, sinking 10-of-14 attempts from the stripe. Nina Aho reached double-figures for the fourth time this season, connecting on 12 points.
Amaya Hamilton stuffed the stat sheet with five points, six rebounds and four assists.
Neither team was separated by more than four points in the first quarter, as the Owls would head to the second period with a slim edge over the Dukes, holding a 15-13 advantage.
As both teams traded points to begin the quarter, Duquesne was able to regain the lead with 7:22 on the clock after a pair of Solé, free throws. The Owls fought back to tie the game at 25-25 and built a five-point lead, but Bazelak knocked a jumper with 43 seconds remaining, as KSU entered the locker room with a 31-26 edge.
The Owls posted their strongest overall quarter in the third period, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor for 27 points. The Dukes countered by shooting 60 percent in the quarter, but the Owls' success from 3-point helped build a double-digit lead at 58-48.
In danger of not recording 70-points for the first time this season, the Dukes offense came alive in the final quarter. Entering the fourth frame, Duquesne only converted 2-of-16 attempts from long range. The Dukes made 4-of-6 shots from long distance in the final 10 minutes, as the Duquesne quickly whittled the KSU advantage.
The Dukes grabbed their first lead since the second quarter after Kalin hit a jumper with 5:09 left in regulation, taking a 63-62 edge on the scoreboard. The teams traded points and leads on the next few possessions.
With KSU leading 70-69, Paige Cannon swished a timely 3-pointer as the Dukes grabbed a two-point advantage with 2:13 remaining. The Owls nailed a jumper with 1:09 remaining to cut the Dukes' lead to just one at 73-72.
As time wound down, the Dukes were able to force a late Kennesaw State turnover, as the Dukes escaped La Roche with a 75-72 win. The Dukes led 21-0 in fast break points and 19-11 on points on turnovers.
Duquesne is off from game competition for the holidays, and close out the non-conference slate on Dec. 30 at Oklahoma State.
