PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne women's basketball team fell in a thrilling matchup against the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, losing 66-65.
 
Duquesne falls to 13-7 (3-4 A-10) while Davidson improves to 10-9 (3-2 A-10).
 
Today was Duquesne's first loss at home since Dec. 1, 2022 against Tulsa. It was a back-and-forth game most of the way, but the fourth quarter had everyone in the building on the edge of their seat. A three-pointer by sophomore guard Tess Myers gave Duquesne a one-point lead with eight seconds to go, but two free throws by Davidson with two seconds left won the visitors the game.
 
Duquesne outscored Davidson in three of the four quarters, but a huge second quarter by Davidson propelled the Wildcats to victory, outscoring the Dukes 26-11 in the second stanza.
 
Myers scored a team-high 18 points while shooting 6-for-12 from three-point range. Sophomore guard Megan McConnell scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out six assists and had four steals.
 
Junior forward Ayanna Townsend also recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, including five offensively.
 
As a team, Duquesne outrebounded Davidson 33-32, but turned the ball over more (16-13). Duquesne did shoot 44 percent from the field compared to 38.6 percent by Davidson, but Davidson's 11 three-pointers and 40.7 shooting percentage from deep was better than Duquesne's nine threes and 37.5 three-point percentage.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
McConnell scored on two pretty reverse layups early to give her four points, two rebounds and an assist at the first media timeout. Both teams kept it close in the first few minutes, but Davidson led 7-6 with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
 
A three-pointer by sophomore guard Naelle Bernard and another by junior guard Lauren Wasylson made it a one-point game again, but Duquesne still trailed. On the next possession, Wasylson hit another three to put the Dukes up by two.
 
 As time was running down in the first, McConnell found Myers on the fast break for a three-pointer at the buzzer. After 10 minutes, the Dukes led, 20-15.
 
Davidson quickly took the lead at 25-24, but McConnell finished on a steal-and-score to retake the advantage.
 
Duquesne couldn't get into a groove for the rest of the second quarter, so it went into halftime down by 10 points as Davidson hit a couple late three-pointers.

Neither team had anything going offensively early in the third quarter as the only two points scored in the first two and a half minutes were free throws by Townsend.
 
Unfortunately for the Dukes, offense started to come for the Wildcats before it came for them. After a couple makes by Davidson and turnovers by Duquesne, the Wildcats led by 12 halfway through the third quarter.
 
Despite the deficit, McConnell kept scratching and clawing as she scored four-straight points to bring the Dukes within eight points.
 
Then, in the blink of an eye, Myers hit back-to-back three pointers and Duquesne was within three points. When the third quarter ended, the Dukes were right back in the game, but still trailed by four.
 
It took a few minutes, but Duquesne did get it going in the final quarter.
 
Down by nine, junior guard Amaya Hamilton and junior center Precious Johnson each made a layup to bring it within five points with 6:06 left in the game. Another Johnson layup brought the Dukes within three points, then McConnell's layup on the fast break on the next possession made it a one-point game and brought the fans to their feet.
 
With 3:06 left in the game, Myers made her fourth three-pointer of the game to finally put Duquesne back in the lead for the first time since the second quarter. She wasn't done yet though. She hit her fifth three on the next possession, putting Duquesne up by three points again.
 
Davidson didn't give in at all, making a three-pointer of its own with 17.2 seconds left to retake the lead at 64-62. When it looked like a Davidson victory was imminent, Myers hit her sixth three-pointer of the game with eight seconds left, while getting fouled, to give Duquesne a lead. 

It wasn't over yet, as Davidson would hit two free throws with two seconds left to retake the lead in a wild end to the game.

On Duquesne's final possession, Townsend got an okay look, but unfortunately, the shot did not fall and Davidson held on for the win.

GAME NOTES

• McConnell scored 12 points, had 11 rebounds, dished out six assists and recorded four steals, which makes today her 10^th double-double of the year.
• With 11 rebounds today, McConnell notched her 12^th double-digit rebounding effort of the year.
• Myers made six three-pointers tonight, including what was almost the game-winner late, giving her multiple threes in 17 out of 20 games this season. She has four games with six or more three-pointers.
• Tonight was Myers' 13^th game with 10 or more points.
• The Dukes have held their opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field in all but three games this year. Davidson shot 38.6 percent today.
• Today was Townsend's 3^rd double-double. She recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds.

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