PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne women's basketball team returns to action after a week off from competition on Wednesday morning, as the Dukes (5-2) seek their fifth consecutive win on the road and sixth overall against the Akron Zips (4-2). The opening tip for Education Day at James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 10:30 a.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW: There will be no stream available for Wednesday's contest against Akron. Fans can track live stats on gozips.com and follow @DuqWBB on Twitter and Instagram for updates before, during and after the game.
THE SERIES: The Dukes own a 7-1 record all-time over the Zips, winning five consecutive games since 2010. The Dukes met for a home-and-home during the 2015-16 and the 2017-18 seasons, as the Dukes posted a 67-57 win in its latest trip to Akron in 2016 and earned a hard-fought 66-60 win over the Zips in 2017. During the 2012-13 postseason the Dukes and Akron met in the first round of the WNIT at the Palumbo Center. Now NBA G League junior coach for the Raptors 905 Wumi Agunbiade posted 22 points and current Duquesne assistant coach Vanessa Abel added a season-best 16 points in a 71-66 victory. The Zips' lone win in the series came in a 55-43 victory at home in 2006-07 season.
LAST TIME OUT: Duquesne shut down Central Connecticut State in its most recent game on Nov. 26, 72-33. Duquesne's 33 points allowed matched a Division I era best, as the Dukes set a new record for points allowed in the third quarter (4). 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. 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. The Dukes jumped to a 24-5 lead after one quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a season-best 40-point advantage at 61-21.
ROAD WARRIORS: Duquesne is back on the road for the sixth time in eight overall games this season. After falling to Temple in the road opener, the Dukes have reeled off four consecutive victories on the road, as the Dukes' streak is tied for 12th best in the nation. Overall, Duquesne's four true road wins is tied for second most in Division I, with Loyola Chicago boasting a 5-0 record on the road to lead the nation. The Dukes are tied with UConn (4-0), Cleveland State (4-1), North Dakota (4-1) and Missouri State (4-1) for the second most road wins nationally.
THE STREAK: After beginning the year 0-2, the Dukes have strung together five consecutive wins over Manhattan (76-65), Iona (76-74), Lafayette (73-65 OT), Pitt (81-62) and Central Connecticut State. Over the past five games, the Dukes have four players averaging double-figures in scoring along with Amaya Hamilton who is averaging 9.4 points per game in a balanced offensive effort. Libby Bazelak and Amanda Kalin have averaged 12.6 points per game over that span to lead Duquesne, while Angela Staffileno has averaged 10.6 ppg and Laia Solé has posted an even 10 ppg in that span. On the boards, the Dukes have four players averaging five-plus rebounds per game. Kalin is averaging five assists per game over the past five. The Dukes have outscored their opponents by a 15.8 points per contest in that span and have held their opponents to shoot at a .265 clip from 3-point range.
SCOUTING AKRON: The Zips enter Wednesday's contest with a 4-2 record and are coming off of a 66-62 loss on the road against Cleveland State on Thanksgiving-eve. The Zips' other loss came at home against No. 24 Michigan by a 80-71 score. Haleigh Reinoehl leads the squad in points per game (14.5) and rebounds per game (8.7). The Zips have posted an equal 2-1 record on the home and road this season.
