Davidson, N.C. – Senior
Amaya Hamilton and junior
Tess Myers surpassed 1,000 career points as the Duquesne women's basketball team captured a 66-59 victory at Davidson on Sunday afternoon at John M. Belk Arena in Atlantic 10 action.
With the win, the Dukes improve to 10-8 overall while posting a 5-2 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Wildcats drop to 13-5 this season and 3-4 in conference action.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
In a game that featured 14 ties and 14 lead changes, the two squads traded the opening 18 points in the first four minutes of the stanza. Davidson would take a 14-11 advantage before Myers buried a triple to knot the score at 14-all, with 2:31 remaining. The Dukes would end the quarter on a 7-0 run, where they hit three straight shots to take a 21-18 lead after one. Myers, Hamilton, and senior
Precious Johnson all registered a bucket. It was a slow start to the second quarter as both teams combined for six points in the first four minutes. After a triple by junior
Megan McConnell, the Wildcats netted nine consecutive points to take a 30-26 lead, with over 3:30 remaining. Senior
Ayanna Townsend sparked an 8-2 run by herself, converting a pair of layups and a pair of jumpers to give Duquesne a 34-32 advantage. Davidson would convert a three-point play to end the half and take a 35-34 lead at the break.
FOURTH QUARTER STOPS
After a stagnant third quarter that led the Wildcats to hold a 47-45 lead, the Dukes made key defensive stops down the stretch. Duquesne held Davidson to just 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from the floor and 0-of-5 from behind the arc in the final quarter. After a scoreless two minutes, the Dukes mounted a 7-2 spurt, to take a 52-49 lead. Hamilton registered five points during the run while Townsend found the bottom of the net. The Wildcats would take the lead after four straight free-throws before Hamilton sparked another 7-2 stint for the Dukes. She led the way with four points while McConnell netted the rest. After consecutive empty positions by Davidson, McConnell connected on a long ball to stretch the Dukes lead (62-55) with 2:05 remaining. The Wildcats answered with a layup before McConnell converted a driving layup with 1:19 remaining. Davidson wouldn't have an answer as Myers buried a pair of free-throws to seal the deal.
QUOTABLE
"I think one of the biggest things is we've hit on a lineup combination that's working right now, and I think that was some of our struggles early in the year and that's why we didn't have a level of consistency," head coach
Dan Burt said. "We've hit on a combination now that works and we put four in double-figures with it but we can't diminish Naelle Bernard and her defensive contributions today. I thought she did an outstanding job on the defensive side of the ball. Our first five starters played very well but that doesn't diminish the accomplishments and achievements of what our bench gave us as well."
1K DUO
A pair of Dukes cracked the record book this afternoon as
Tess Myers and
Amaya Hamilton joined the 1,000-career point club. Myers was the first to eclipse the milestone when she buried a straight on triple at the 8:00 minute mark in the third quarter. Myers finished the afternoon with 11 points on 3-of-6 from deep while collecting five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. She now has 1,002 career points, which is 34
th in program history. Hamilton concurred the honor in the fourth quarter at the 7:15 mark, where her driving layup that turned into a three-point play surpassed the milestone. Hamilton recorded 13 points, three rebounds, and one assist after playing all 40 minutes. She now has 1,006 career points which sits 33
rd in program history.
QUOTABLE
"I'm really happy for them and it's hard to believe they scored 1,000 points," Burt continued. "It's hard to believe they're in their fourth and fifth year respectively. I will treasure every minute that I get to coach them and be a part of this program. They're both great young women and both are playing at a high level. Amaya in particular is playing her very best basketball in a Duquesne uniform over the last six or seven games. I am just extremely happy for both of them."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Senior
Ayanna Townsend paced the Dukes with a season-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting. She netted 12 of her 18 in the first half, where she was 6-of-6 from the field. Townsend also secured seven rebounds and a block in the win.
Megan McConnell registered 14 points, seven boards, two assists, and one steal for the Dukes. She carded seven of her 14 in the fourth quarter where she was 50.0 percent from the floor, with a triple. The quartet of Townsend, McConnell, Hamilton, and Myers combined for 55 of the Dukes 66 points.
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns to UPMC Cooper Field House when it begins a two-game homestand, first welcoming Richmond on Wednesday, Jan. 26, with the opening tip scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
