Annapolis, Md. – A crucial offensive foul drawn by junior
Reina Green, followed by a clutch 1-of-2 trip to the line from freshman
Alexis Bordas, sealed a 69–67 come-from-behind overtime victory for Duquesne at Navy on Sunday in the final day of the Navy Classic. The win lifts the Dukes to 6–2 (.750) on the season.
FREE BASKETBALL
Overtime opened with a three-minute scoring drought on both sides before freshman
Raevin Washington broke through, finishing a layup to give Duquesne a 62–60 lead with 2:46 to play. Navy answered with four of the next six points to tie the game at 64, but freshman
Harriet Ford responded with a three-point play that pushed the Dukes ahead 67–64 with 57 seconds left. The Mids quickly countered as Julianna Almeida drilled a right-wing three to even things once more with 39 seconds remaining. Ford put Duquesne back on top by splitting a pair of free throws, and on the ensuing possession, Green stepped in to draw a crucial charge on Zanai Barnett-Gay with four seconds left. Bordas then calmly knocked down one of two free throws to extend the lead to 69–67, and Navy was unable to get a final shot off as time expired.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
The Dukes entered the fourth quarter down 56–44 but locked in defensively, holding Navy to just four points on 1-for-14 shooting (7.1%) in the final frame. Duquesne opened the quarter with a 7–2 run—behind three points each from Amaya Green and
Gabby Grantham-Medley—to pull within seven at 58–51. The momentum continued over the next two and a half minutes as the Dukes rattled off eight straight points to reclaim the lead, 59–58, with 4:08 to play. Grantham-Medley fueled the push with five points, while
Alexis Bordas added a three. Both teams went scoreless for the next 3:27 until
Harriet Ford hit one of two at the line, tying the game at 60–60 and sending the contest to overtime.
THE TRIO
Three Dukes scored in double figures, led by
Alexis Bordas for the second straight game. She posted 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, knocking down four threes and going 4-of-5 at the line.
Gabby Grantham-Medley delivered all 16 of her points in the second half and added eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals while hitting three triples.
Harriet Ford rounded out the trio with her fourth double-double of the season, collecting a team-high 14 rebounds and 10 points. She was especially dominant on the glass, pulling down nine offensive boards and shooting 4-of-7 from the stripe.
NOTES
Mackenzie Blackford ended with eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists while
Reina Green made her first start of the season with six points, seven rebounds, and one steal … Duquesne won the rebound battle 56-52 while securing 22 offensive rebounds … The Dukes forced 18 Navy turnovers while collecting 10 steals … Each team connected on 10 triples
NEXT
Duquesne continues its road stretch as it begins Atlantic 10 play on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when it travels to Davidson. The opening tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
