Pittsburgh, Pa. – Behind four Dukes in double-figures, the Duquesne University women's basketball team captured a 76-67 victory over St. Bonaventure on Wednesday night in league action at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes improve to 9-8 overall while jumping to 4-2 in conference action.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
It was a blistering start for Duquesne in the opening five minutes, shooting 6-of-6 from the field to hold a 16-3 lead. Junior guard
Naelle Bernard and senior forward
Ayanna Townsend each posted five points while junior guard
Megan McConnell netted four during the stint. The two squads continued to trade buckets over the final four minutes as Duquesne held a 24-13 advantage after the opening frame. The Dukes finished the quarter 9-of-12 from the field (75.0 percent), including 60.0 percent from behind the arc. Duquesne continued to be consistent in the second quarter, netting seven of the first nine points to begin the second 10 minutes. McConnell sparked the run with a layup, followed by a bucket from Townsend, before junior
Tess Myers buried a triple to cap the stint. The Bonnies would respond, mounting an 18-5 run over the final five minutes to cut the Dukes lead. St. Bonaventure (4-13/1-5 A-10) would finish the quarter 6-of-8 from the field while holding the Dukes 2-of-7 shooting from the floor. Duquesne would hold a 38-333 advantage at the break.
TICKLE THE TWINE
In the second half, the Dukes came out firing as they scored seven consecutive points to begin the final 20 minutes. Hamilton converted a pair of layups while Bernard connected on a jumper from behind the arc. Over the next three minutes Duquesne would keep their foot on the pedal, mounting an 11-2 run to stretch its lead even further, 56-35. Townsend would lead the charge with six points during the run. After a pair of free-throws from the Bonnies, the Dukes secured its largest lead of the contest (62-40) on a triple by Myers with 1:27 remaining in the quarter. St. Bonaventure would make a run to end the quarter as Duquesne held a 64-45 advantage after three. The Dukes finished the quarter 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) from the field while holding the Bonnies to just 33.3 percent (4-of-12) shooting.
St. Bonaventure didn't shy away in the final frame, outscoring Duquesne 22-12 while opening the quarter on a 7-1 spurt. Duquesne would stretch its lead to 17 midway through the final quarter, before an 8-3 run by the Bonnies cut the deficit to single digits with 1:30 remaining. A layup by Myers would secure the win in the end.
QUOTABLE
"Every Atlantic 10 victory is a good thing, even if you don't play your best game and I think Bonaventure has to have some credit for that," head coach
Dan Burt said. "For us, we had some really good individual contributions but we have to be better at every facet of the game. I'm not going to be satisfied with just winning. We'll enjoy it till midnight and then we're going to move forward. We have to do multiple things better as we pursue what our goals are but I thought
Amaya Hamilton and
Ayanna Townsend played very well on both sides of the floor."
THE QUARTET
Four Dukes finished in double-digits, led by
Megan McConnell, who posted her 18
th career double-double and fifth of the season. She posted 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting while collecting 13 boards, two blocks, one steal, and dishing out six assists.
Ayanna Townsend carded a season-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while securing six rebounds and two blocks.
Amaya Hamilton recorded an all-around performance, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, and a season-best six assists. Hamilton posted 12 of her 14 in the second half while shooting 4-for-7 from the field.
Tess Myers was the final Duke in double-figures, tallying 11 points with three triples, four assists, and three rebounds.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
St. Bonaventure had four players finish in double-figures, led by Isabellah Middleton. She finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and two assists while Nadechka Laccen and Dani Haskell each chipped in 12 points. Laccen finished with six rebounds while Haskell buried three threes. Payton Fields was the final player in double-digits, posting 11 points and four boards. Duquesne mounted 36 points in the paint, compared to St. Bonaventure's 14 while shooting over 52.0 percent for the contest.
UP NEXT
Duquesne hits the road as it travels to Davidson on Sunday, Jan. 21, to take on the Wildcats in Atlantic 10 action, with opening tip scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
