PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Duquesne's late comeback attempt in the fourth quarter fell just short against Temple on Friday night, as the Dukes lost 66-60 on the road.
 
With the loss, Duquesne falls to 8-3 on the year while Temple improves to 5-6.
 
Duquesne was down by as many as 18 points in the second half tonight, but was able to get all the way back to within four with 1:43 remaining in the game.
 
The Dukes' comeback effort was led by junior forward Ayanna Townsend and her 19 points. She was 9-for-11 from the free throw line.
 
Sophomore guard Megan McConnell had nine points, nine rebounds and six assists. Sophomore guard Naelle Bernard was the only other Duke in double digits as she scored 10 points.
 
Duquesne outscored Temple in the paint, 28-16, but the Owls' 10 three-pointers doubled Duquesne's total, which was enough to give Temple a slight edge tonight.
 
After being outscored in the second and third quarter, the Dukes outpaced Temple in the fourth quarter, 22-15, to lead a comeback effort that fell short in the end.
 
Neither team shot particularly well overall, as Duquesne ended with a 35 percent field goal percentage and Temple ended the game shooting 34 percent.
 
McConnell got Duquesne on the board first with a bucket and a free throw, but Temple was able to jump out to an early 8-5 lead.
 
Following a few missed shots back-and-forth, junior guard Amaya Hamilton found junior center Precious Johnson down low for two points, then followed that possession up with a three-pointer of her own. After the quick five points, the Dukes went into the first quarter media timeout up 10-8.
 
An 8-0 run by Temple erased Duquesne's lead, but six-straight points by Townsend tied it at 18 as the first quarter came to a close.
 
Two quick buckets by McConnell and Johnson put the Dukes up by one, but Temple's fourth three-pointer of the first half gave the lead back to the Owls.
 
As Temple made another three-pointer, Duquesne couldn't get one to fall. Despite the shooting woes, the Dukes were able to convert from the free throw line to stay in it, beginning the game 7-for-7 from the charity stripe.
 
Townsend was the first Duke to double digits as she hit a smooth turnaround jumper, but Temple's shooting clinic from beyond the arc extended its lead over Duquesne to seven points. At halftime, Temple was shooting 50 percent from three and led, 35-28.
 
Temple's lead got up to 11 points right out of the half and the home team would not cool down. The Owls made four out of their first six shots in the second half and extended their lead over the Dukes to 15 points.
 
Going into the final 10 minutes, Duquesne trailed by 13 after being down by as many as 18. A quick 7-2 right at the end of the third quarter gave Duquesne some much-needed life.
 
Townsend began the fourth with a three-point play after drawing a foul on a layup, then two turnovers by Temple injected some extra energy into the Dukes.
 
Then Bernard hit back-to-back threes, drawing a foul on the second one and converting the free throw for a four-point play to get the Dukes within nine.
 
Two more free throws by Townsend got Duquesne within seven, but another Temple three kept the Dukes three scores away.
 
A Townsend jumper made it 60-55, then another free throw made it a four-point game. Unfortunately for the Dukes, a couple shots in the final minute did not go, and they fell just short of coming back.

GAME NOTES

• With two today, sophomore guard Tess Myers has made multiple three-pointers in every game this season. She leads the team with 34 three-pointers made.
• McConnell grabbed nine rebounds tonight, falling one short of her eighth-straight game with 10 or more rebounds.
• Temple shot just 33.8 percent tonight, making it the third-lowest an opponent has shot against Duquesne this season.

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