PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Duquesne women's basketball team secured a huge win over the Richmond Spiders on Saturday, winning 83-69 at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. 
 
Duquesne improves to 17-10 (7-7 A-10) while Richmond falls to 16-9 (6-6 A-10). The Dukes are now 13-3 at home which ties the Duquesne record for most home wins in a season.
 
Sophomore guard Megan McConnell had the best game of her career, scoring a career-high 23 points, grabbing a career-high 18 rebounds and hitting a career-high five three-pointers. She also dished out eight assists.
 
Junior center Precious Johnson scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in 29 minutes. Junior guard Amaya Hamilton had 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had a career-high eight assists.
 
The Dukes shot an impressive 57.9 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from long range. Duquesne outrebounded Richmond 42-23, but the turnovers were lopsided in the Spiders' favor – Duquesne had 15 and Richmond had six.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Richmond hit a trio of three-pointers to give them the early advantage while Duquesne started the game 0-for-5 from deep. At the first media timeout, the Spiders led 11-6. Duquesne eventually hit a couple of its own, but Richmond's defense held the Dukes in check in the first quarter. After one, Duquesne trailed, 19-14.
 
Five-straight points by the Dukes to open the second quarter tied it up quickly, then two scores by Richmond were matched by back-to-back buckets from Johnson. Sophomore guard Naelle Bernard gave the Dukes their first lead of the game at 27-25.
 
McConnell notched a double-double with her 10^th rebound at 1:14 in the second quarter. Going into halftime she led Duquesne to a 32-27 lead.
 
McConnell and the Dukes blitzed Richmond in the second half, as Duquesne's point guard hit two three-pointers in the first minute. Duquesne began the third quarter on an 8-0 run.
 
Richmond wasn't going anywhere though, as it went on an 14-0 run of its own thanks to four triples. The Spiders had a huge third quarter and scored 32 points. Going into the final frame, they led 59-53.
 
Duquesne answered immediately, going on a 7-0 run early in the fourth to make it a one-point game. A three by Hamilton gave Duquesne the lead with 7:14 left, then the Dukes went on a massive 11-2 run to give themselves a seven-point lead with 4:37 remaining.
 
Duquesne ended up outscoring Richmond 30-10 in the final quarter to propel itself to an 83-69 final score.


GAME NOTES

• McConnell scored a career-high 23 points today and hit a career-high five three-pointers.
• Her 18 rebounds are also a new career high.
• McConnell hit 500 career rebounds with her eighth today, and now sits at 510 on her career.
• Sophomore guard Tess Myers now has the fifth-most three-pointers in a single season at Duquesne with 81. She is three three-pointers away from moving into fourth-place.
• Myers is also tied for fifth all-time at Duquesne with 196 three-pointers and is 29 away from fourth.
• Today marked Hamilton's 16^th double digit effort of the season with 15 points. It was her seventh game with 15 or more points.
• She also had a career-high eight assists.
• With two today, Johnson now ranks seventh in Duquesne history with 114 blocks in her career.
• Today also marked Johnson's 11^th double digit effort of the season with 17 points.
• Today was the 13^th home win of the season, tying the all-time Duquesne women's basketball record. This year's team is the third squad to hit that mark. The Dukes are 13-3 at home this season.

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