ST. LOUIS – Down by as many as 12 points, the Duquesne University women's basketball team rallied to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but a 3-pointer in the final seconds ultimately lifted Saint Louis to a 53-50 win at Chaiftez Arena on Sunday night.  

The Dukes (13-7, 3-4) led the Billikens (11-9, 3-4) 50-48 with eight seconds left, as SLU's Rachel Kent connected on a 3-pointer with just over a second remaining on the clock to give the Billikens a 51-50 advantage. Duquesne could not get a shot off on its next possession after advancing the ball to its offensive end on a timeout. The Billikens notched a pair of free throws with fractions of a second remaining to seal the victory.

Amaya Hamilton led Duquesne with 14 points off the bench, including a freshman season-best four three-pointers on just six attempts. She added five rebounds and did not turn the ball over in 24-plus minutes of action.

Joining Hamilton in double-figures were Laia Solé and Libby Bazelak, who both recorded 12 points. Solé also contributed four rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks, while Bazelak led the Dukes with eight boards and three steals.

Paige Cannon registered nine points and five rebounds, while connecting on both of her two attempts from the stripe.

FIRST QUARTER

• Saint Louis scored 12 of the first 16 points, grabbing an eight-point lead at 12-4.
• Duquesne sliced the deficit to five after a 3-pointer from Bazelak, but the Billikens enlarged its lead to a game-high 12 points at 19-7 after a 7-3 sprint.
• Hamilton drilled a triple with 1:02 left in the quarter, as the Dukes entered the second quarter down 19-10.
• The Dukes were held to 3-of-16 from the field, with two of the three makes coming from beyond the arc.

SECOND QUARTER

• Duquesne began the second quarter on a 9-2 run to trim the deficit to just two at 21-19.
• The Billikens halted the Duquesne run with a 3-pointer, but the Dukes responded with back-to-back jumpers to make it a one-point game at 24-23.
• SLU's Kent hit a jumper with 23 seconds left for the final points at the half, as the Billikens held a 3-point lead at 26-23 after 20 minutes of action.
• Solé posted six points in the second quarter, while Hamilton added five.
• The Dukes' defense allowed SLU to shoot just 3-for-16 in the quarter, as Duquesne outscored the Billikens, 13-7 in the frame.

• Saint Louis scored the first eight points of the third quarter, increasing its advantage to 11 points at 34-23 with 7:16 left in the period.
• Duquesne responded with a quick 5-0 run, featuring a pair of free throws from Bazelak and a Hamilton trey to slice the SLU lead to six at 34-28.
• After a Billiken free throw, Duquesne inched a little closer with a free throw and a Cannon layup to make it a four-point game at 35-31.
• A SLU layup with 13 seconds left in the third gave the Billikens a 37-31 advantage entering the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• As they it has done on multiple times this season, Duquesne quickly erased the fourth quarter deficit, as Duquesne began the fourth quarter on a 10-0 surge to claim its first lead of the game at 38-37 and increased the advantage to a game-high four points at 41-37 after a Hamilton 3-pointer.
• SLU responded with a 3-pointer, but Solé and Cannon combined for three free throwsto increase the Dukes' lead to four at 44-40 with 4:08 to go.
• SLU tied the game at 44-44 with 3:34 left, but a triple from Bazelak gave the Dukes back the lead at 47-44.
• The Billikens responded with a 3-pointer of their own, to tie the game back up at 47-47.
• A Bazelak layup gave Duquesne back the lead at 49-47 with 2:06 to go. The teams would both hit a free throw, as the Dukes led 50-48 with six seconds remaining.
• Kent sank the go-ahead 3-pointer with just over a second remaining, as the Dukes could not counter, falling to Saint Louis, 53-50.
• Seven of Cannon's nine points came in the fourth quarter.
• The Dukes made 6-of-9 attempts from the field, 3-of-5 from long distance and 4-of-6 from the stripe over the final 10 minutes.

NOTES

• Duquesne's 17 field goals came off of 14 assists.
• The Dukes lead the all-time series over Saint Louis, 12-6.

UP NEXT

• Duquesne is off from game competition until Thursday, when the Dukes host St. Bonaventure. The opening tip at La Roche University is set for 7:00 p.m.