Princeton, N.J. - The Duquesne University women's basketball team dropped a back-and-forth season opener at Princeton, 65-57, on Monday night inside Jadwin Gymnasium.

The Dukes took a 52-49 lead into the final 10 minutes, but were outscored 16-5 in the fourth quarter leading to the eight-point loss in a game that featured nine lead changes and four ties.

Amaya Hamilton led the Dukes with 18 points and pulled in seven rebounds. Hamilton went a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc and 6-for-8 from the floor. The senior guard/forward from Fishers, Ind. scored 15 of her points in the Dukes' 28-point third quarter.

Duquesne came out firing and never trailed in the first quarter. Ayanna Townsend began the scoring on the first possession of the season, then she finished the opening frame with a layup in the final seconds to cap off a 10-2 run putting DU up 16-6. Townsend ended the night with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

The defending Ivy League champion Tigers limited Duquesne to just eight points in the second quarter and took its first lead of the night in the final minute of the first half, which they kept at the break (26-24).

The sides combined for 51 points in the third quarter. DU rattled off an early 6-0 run to regain the lead less than two-minutes into the second half, then six of the nine lead changes ensued. The Dukes maintained a one-possession lead into the final stanza, but a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter by Princeton put the home squad in full control down the stretch.

The Dukes shot 50+% in the first and third quarters, while finishing the day 18-for-50 (36%). Duquesne drained half of its 16 three point attempts, including a 6-for-8 mark in the second half.

Megan McConnell played all 40 minutes and corralled a team-high 12 rebounds, while dishing out four assists with no turnovers and swiping four steals.

UP NEXT
Duquesne will be back in action on Saturday at Niagara. Tip off is scheduled for 1 pm.

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