AMHERST, Mass. – The Duquesne women's basketball team was defeated 89-59 at Massachusetts Sunday afternoon.
 
The Dukes (9-15, 4-8 A-10) were led by a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double from Megan McConnell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley). It was her third of the season and fourth game with more than 10 rebounds. The 5-foot-7 point guard leads the team in rebounding and has finished with at least five rebounds in 15 of the last 18 games.
 
Tess Myers (Lower Burrell, Pa./North Catholic) posted a team-high 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 6-of-14 from long range.
 
Myers tied the game up at 6-6 with her second three of the game with four minutes into the contest. UMass (20-5, 8-3 A-10) countered with an 11-1 run to put the Dukes in a 17-7 hole over the next three minutes, before taking a 21-11 lead into the second quarter.
 
Duquesne cut into the deficit on a pair of McConnell free throws and a step-back jumper from Amaya Hamilton (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) that made the score 25-17 at the six-minute mark. The Minutewomen withstood the Dukes push and went on to take a 39-20 lead into halftime.  
 
The Dukes started to see shots fall in the third quarter, scoring 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting in the period. Despite seeing an uptick in scoring, Duquesne was unable to make up any ground, as UMass converted 10 of 18 in the quarter for 25 points to put the Dukes in a 64-42 deficit heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Minutewomen maintained a significant lead in the fourth quarter and closed the game with eight-straight points in the final 90 seconds to deal Duquesne the loss.
 
The Dukes, who only shot 21 percent in the first half, bounced back to shoot nearly 50 percent in the second half. The team was 19 of 55 (34 percent) for the game. UMass shot the ball well all day and posted a 36 of 71 (51 percent) showing from the field.
 
All five starters scored in double figures for UMass. Destiny Philoxy led all players with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
 
The game was broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. The Dukes are now 37-26 all-time when playing in a televised game.
 
Duquesne will return home on Wednesday, Feb. 16 when it hosts Richmond inside the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The game is set for a 5 p.m. tip and will be followed by the Duquesne men's basketball game versus George Washington. Both games will broadcast on ESPN+.