Women's Preview Duquesne University's basketball team will be hitting the floor Sunday afternoon. The men are in Amherst, MA, for a 1 p.m. match with the Massachusetts Minutemen while the women will host the Xavier Musketeers at 2 p.m. at the Palumbo Center.
The DU men (9-16, 3-9) face Massachusetts (10-14, 4-7) at UMass' Mullins Center (KQV-AM 1410 radio & internet broadcast at www.redzonemedia.com).
The Dukes are coming off a 78-73 win over George Washington on Wednesday and are looking to extend their winning streak to three. Duquesne, led by Jimmy Tricco's 21 points (5-of-8 3-pointers), enjoyed its best shooting night of the season (58%) vs. GW. The Dukes also outrebounded the Colonials 30-18 and
posted a 42-16 edge in points in the paint. Sixth man Kevin Forney leads the Dukes in scoring at 13.5 ppg. Tricco (11.0 ppg.) and 6-9 center Ron Dokes (10.3 ppg.) are also averaging in double digits.
Meanwhile, the DU women (13-11, 6-7) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid Sunday when West Division foe Xavier (18-7, 10-4) comes in to the Palumbo Center (over the internet via RedZoneMedia.com).
Junior Candace Futrell continues to lead the Dukes with 18.7 ppg followed by senior Beth Friday with 14.4 markers and a team-high 10.8 rebounds per contest. Freshman Aiga Bautre has a squad-best 42 three-point goals and leads the A-10 with her .500 accuracy from behind the arc. Junior Shiri Sharon's 6.75 assists per game average is tops in the league as well.
In other news, two Duquesne basketball players were named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District 2 Basketball Teams on Thursday. Duquesne University senior forward Beth Friday (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) and junior guard Jimmy Tricco (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) were two of just 10 Division I student-athletes from Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia to be so honored. Duquesne has had 12 student-athletes honored for academic and athletic achievements so far this year.
