Annapolis, Md. – The Duquesne women's basketball team opened play at the Navy Classic on Saturday evening, but their late rally came up short as they fell to Liberty, 67–60, inside Alumni Hall. The loss drops the Dukes to 5-2 (.714) on the season.

POINT OF EMPHASIS
Despite trailing by as many as 21, Duquesne battled back and cut the deficit to 48-41 entering the final quarter. Emmy Stout briefly pushed the Flames lead back to nine after going 1-of-2 at the foul line, but sophomore Harriet Ford and freshman Alexis Bordas ignited a 7-3 Dukes run. Ford opened the surge with a layup, and after a Liberty three, Bordas answered with one of her own. Ford then capped the run with a pair of free-throws to make it 60-55. After several empty possessions for both teams, Avery Mills converted an old-fashioned three-point play to extend Liberty's lead to eight. Bordas responded again from deep, pulling Duquesne within five with 2:43 remaining. A scoring drought followed on both ends before the teams traded baskets, but a Liberty layup with 32 seconds left pushed the margin back to seven, sealing the 67-60 final.

KEEP ON FIGHTING
Duquesne struggled offensively in the opening quarter, falling behind 20-8 after the first 10 minutes, but the Dukes found their rhythm in the second. Liberty opened the frame with a 9-0 run to build a 29-8 lead, prompting a Duquesne response. The Dukes answered with an 11-3 stretch, sparked by redshirt sophomore Gabby Grantham-Medley's four straight points. After a Flames three, junior Reina Green added a layup, Bordas knocked down a long-range shot, and freshman Raevin Washington finished the spurt with a layup to make it 32-19. Following a jumper from Elisabeth Aegisdottir, Duquesne closed the half on a 7-0 run to pull within 34-26 at the break. Green drilled a three and added a free throw, and sophomore Mackenzie Blackford capped the surge with a corner triple to send the Dukes into halftime with momentum.

INSIDE THE STAT SHEET
Two Dukes finished in double figures, led by Alexis Bordas, who recorded her second 20-point performance of the season. She totaled 23 points on 50.0 percent shooting, knocking down five three-pointers while adding two rebounds and a steal. 18 of her 23 points came in the second half, where she went 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. Reina Green added a season-high 10 points, matching her career-high with seven rebounds and adding a steal. Raevin Washington contributed eight points and a team-leading eight rebounds, along with four blocks. Gabby Grantham-Medley and Mackenzie Blackford each chipped in seven points, with Grantham-Medley also dishing out four assists.

UP NEXT
Duquesne continues play at the Navy Classic on Sunday, taking on host Navy at 1:00 p.m. inside Alumni Hall.