Kingston, R.I. – The Duquesne women's basketball team traveled to Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon and suffered a 70-50 setback in Atlantic 10 action at the Thomas M. Ryan Center. With the loss, the Dukes fall to 7-11 overall (.389) and 0-7 in conference play.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
Rhode Island jumped out to an early 8-5 advantage before sophomore guard
Fatou Sane knocked down a right-wing three-pointer to even the score with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. After a two-minute scoring drought, the Dukes strung together a 7-2 run to take a 15-10 lead. The spurt was highlighted by a triple from freshman guard
Alexis Bordas, followed by a jumper from junior
Reina Green and a layup by freshman
Raevin Washington. The Rams responded with three consecutive points, trimming Duquesne's lead to 15-13 at the end of the opening quarter. The Dukes carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending their advantage to 19-13 after baskets from redshirt sophomore
Gabby Grantham-Medley and Washington. Following another scoring drought of two-and-a-half minutes, Rhode Island put together a 13-2 run over a five-minute stretch to reclaim a 26-21 lead with just over one minute remaining in the half. Washington connected on a jumper to stop the run, but Duquesne headed into the break trailing 26-23.
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
Rhode Island (16-2, 7-0 A-10) increased its defensive pressure in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers over the final 20 minutes, including 10 in the third quarter alone. The Rams opened the half on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double digits before Grantham-Medley stemmed the tide with a jumper, cutting the deficit to 33-25. Rhode Island answered with an 8-3 run to push its advantage to 41-28 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Grantham-Medley later knocked down a three-pointer, and sophomore guard
Faith Walker added a jumper, but the Rams carried a 45-33 lead into the fourth quarter. Despite committing just two turnovers in the final period, Duquesne was outscored in points off turnovers, as Rhode Island converted 12 Dukes miscues into 13 points in the second half while recording seven steals.
INSIDE THE STAT SHEET
Mackenzie Blackford was the lone Duke to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points on three made three-pointers. She added three assists, two rebounds, and one steal while shooting 4-of-9 (44.4%) from the field.
Fatou Sane followed with nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Raevin Washington contributed eight points on an efficient 4-of-5 (80.0%) shooting performance, along with two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Reina Green and
Gabby Grantham-Medley each chipped in seven points, with Green also pulling down six rebounds.
NOTES
Rhode Island featured two players in double figures, led by Albina Syla with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds … Ines Debroise ended with 13 points with a pair of triples and three assists … Rhode Island won the rebounding battle 43-36 … The Rams held a 30-22 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 20-3 lead in second chance points … There was four lead changes and three ties
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Jan. 21, when it welcomes Dayton for an Atlantic 10 matchup slated for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff.
