PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne women's basketball team began the contest on a 13-2 run and never looked back, overpowering George Mason, 84-63, on Wednesday night at La Roche University. The Dukes (13-6, 3-3) shot a season-best clip from the field (56.1 percent) and from the beyond the arc (58.8 percent), and held the Patriots (7-12, 1-5) to just 39.1 percent from the field and just 20.8 percent from long range.

The Dukes boasted a balanced offense throughout as Laia Solé led the squad with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists and two blocks. Libby Bazelak connected on 7-of-10 shots from the floor for 18 points and distributed six assists.

Kiersten Elliott did not miss a shot on the night, pouring in a career-best 14 points in 18 minutes of action. Elliott went 4-for-4 from 3-point land, breaking her previous best of three triples against Oklahoma State.

Nina Aho rounded out the double-figure scorers, with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. She grabbed four rebounds and dished six assists in the winning effort.

Amanda Kalin stuffed the box score with nine points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.  

FIRST QUARTER

• Duquesne's fast start offensively featured a triples from Kalin, Aho and Paige Cannon, as Solé, and Bazelak added a bucket in the paint to lift the Dukes to a 13-2 advantage.
• Mason sliced the deficit to seven at 15-8 after a pair of 3-pointers, but the Dukes finished the opening period strong on a 10-3 sprint to double up Mason at 28-14 after one quarter.
• Seven different Dukes recorded a field goal during the first 10 minutes. Bazelak led the way with seven points.
• Dukes shot 11-18 from the floor and 6-10 from long distance.

SECOND QUARTER

• Duquesne built the lead to as high as 22 points in the second quarter at 38-16, but the Patriots began to slowly trim the deficit down to 16 oat 38-22 and 40-24.
• Both teams would trade points the rest of the way, as the Dukes owned a 46-28 lead at the break.
• 16 of Duquesne's 18 points came in the paint, as the Dukes did not attempt a 3-pointer in the second quarter.
• Solé and Bazelak each had an even 10 points at the half. Solé looked to be in range of a triple-double with eight rebounds and six assists after 20 minutes of action.
• Duquesne outrebounded Mason 18-8 in the second quarter.  

THIRD QUARTER

• After the halftime intermission, Duquesne increased its lead to a game-best 25 points at 55-30.
• Mason would cut the lead to as low as 17 points at 59-42 and 61-44, but the Dukes would take a 20-point lead into the final quarter at 66-46.
• Aho posted seven points in the frame, as the Dukes sunk 8-of-12 attempts from the floor as a team.
• Seven of eight field goals were assisted in the third.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The Dukes maintained a 16-25 point lead the rest of the way, coasting to a 84-63 win.

NOTES

• Duquesne's shooting clip on both field goals (56.1 percent) and 3-point field goals (58.8 percent) were the best since the Dukes shot 63.5 percent and 59.1 percent against Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 Championships a season ago.
• The Dukes led 41-30 on the glass.
• Duquesne's 23 assists tied a season-best, as each of the first 11 field goals in the first quarter featured an assist.    

UP NEXT

• The Dukes look to make it three in a row on Sunday, when Duquesne battles Saint Louis at Chaifetz Arena.
• Duquesne returns home to La Roche University on Thursday, Jan. 30 to battle St. Bonaventure.