TOLEDO, Ohio – Despite a career-best 32 points from senior guard Amanda Kalin, the Duquesne women's basketball team could not ground Toledo, falling to the Rockets by a score of 77-74 on Friday night at Savage Arena. The Dukes fall to 2-2, while the Rockets improve its record to 4-1.

Kalin's 32 points came on 11-of-17 shooting from the field, 5-of-6 from 3-point land and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. The Gibsonia, Pa. native also brought down five rebounds, earned two steals and turned the ball over just once during the complete 40-minute performance. The Pine-Richland product led the Dukes with 21 points at halftime, on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting.

Laia Solé supplemented the offense with 12 points and grabbed seven boards for the Dukes (2-2, 1-0 A10) in her third double-digit scoring output in four games this season. Precious Johnson (9 pts/4-of-5 FG/6 reb.), Amaya Hamilton (8 pts./4-of-6 FG/5 reb.) and Diamon Bragg (7 pts./5 ast.) also contributed on the offensive end.

Toledo's Quinesha Lockett led the Rockets with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Sophia Wiard added 14 points. Sammi Mikonowicz (14 pts./11 reb.) and Mali Morgan-Elliott (10 pts./13 reb.) posted double-doubles.  

FIRST QUARTER

• After Duquesne scored the first four points of the game, Toledo raced to a 12-4 run to grab a 12-6 advantage.
• The Dukes would trim the deficit to one 15-14 after a 8-3 sprint after a Kiersten Elliott free throw.
• Toledo scored eight of the final 10 points in the quarter, taking a 23-16 lead after 10 minutes.
• Kalin scored seven points in the opening frame.
• Both teams shot above 50 percent (Duquesne: 7-for-13, Toledo 8-for-14) in the opening period.   

SECOND QUARTER

• Toledo built its lead to as high as 13-points at 37-24 midway through the second quarter.
• The Dukes regrouped and finished the first half on a 16-4 sprint, as the Dukes trailed the Rockets by just a single point at 41-40.
• Kalin scored 14 of Duquesne's 24 points in the second quarter, finishing the first half with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. Solé posted nine points at the halftime intermission.

THIRD QUARTER

• The first points of the second half came on a Bragg layup, as the Dukes posted its first lead of the contest at 42-41 since it was 6-4.
• Toledo would steal momentum however, building an eight-point advantage at 53-45.
• Once again, Duquesne clawed back, this time with a 14-8 run, as the Dukes cut the deficit to just a one possession game at 61-59 after three quarters.
• Kalin added seven points to her total in the third, who entered the final quarter with 28 points.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The Rockets started the quarter strong, building a 10-pt. lead at 69-59, but Duquesne showed resilience, as a pair of free throws from Kalin would tie the contest at 69-69 following a 10-0 sprint by the Dukes.
• Toledo would not relinquish the lead this time, holding off a potential Duquesne comeback. After Toledo failed to convert a free throw attempt, the Dukes had possession in the closing seconds, but could not attempt a potential game-tying shot in time.

QUOTEABLE: "Toledo is a good basketball team that is very well coached. Tonight, in some ways, we were outcoached we allow too many direct drives too many middle drives and too many offensive rebounds and tonight, in some ways, we were outcoached we allow too many direct drives too many middle drives and too many offensive rebounds and they were the aggressor. I said this before the game began that if we allowed them to dictate the aggressiveness with offensive rebounding and allowing middle drives that this would be the outcome and that is exactly what happened. I am disappointed in that aspect of the game and how we performed. On the other end of it, obviously, Amanda Kalin played very well from an offensive standpoint. There are good things to take away from this game. We did score 74 points, but it really sticks with you that you only have seven offensive rebounds give up 17 [offensive rebounds] include including several on missed free throws by Toledo and so many direct drive. Put the blame on me in the second quarter for not calling a timeout earlier to change something up to make that happen. We will learn from this and move forward."

– Duquesne Head Coach Dan Burt

NOTES: Kalin's previous career-high of 25 points came against Saint Francis (Pa.) earlier this season. She now leads the Dukes with an average of 17.5 points per game in 2020-21 … Two of Kalin's four 20+ point performances have now come against Toledo … Four of the eight games all-time between Duquesne and Toledo have been decided by less than 10 points. 

UP NEXT: The Dukes close out 2020 and the current non-conference schedule on the road against Kent State on Monday at 1:00 p.m.