Dukes Rally to Beat First-Place VCU in Overtime

PITTSBURGH — Down eight points with 2:02 remaining in regulation, the Duquesne women’s basketball team refused to back down Saturday afternoon against a VCU opponent that ranked first in the Atlantic 10 standings.

As a result, the Dukes came away with a 71-68 overtime victory at A.J. Palumbo Center.

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Duquesne senior guard Chassidy Omogrosso hit a game-tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. She scored 18 points and in doing so surpassed April Robinson for fourth place on the program’s all-time scoring list and also eclipsed the 1,600 career point mark.

In the overtime period, Duquesne built up a quick four-point lead thanks to four more points from Omogrosso and a Conor Richardson 3-point that allowed the Dukes to control the overtime period. VCU had an opportunity to tie the contest with 11 seconds remaining, but Kadri-Ann Lass was able to get a hand on the inbounds pass.

Duquesne was 4-for-13 from the field in the fourth quarter which was the lowest scoring of the four, but down eight points with 2:02 remaining made a comeback which brought the game to overtime.

After Libby Bazelak sank two free throws, Richardson converted a corner three-point shot, drawing the Dukes to within three points.

VCU and Duquesne then matched free throws, before the latter fouled Nyra Williams. Williams missed both free throws and on the next possession down, Omogrosso fired her game-tying 3-point shot.

OT wins are the best wins 🔥🔥🔥#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/hD5ZRRMsE4

— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) February 23, 2019

Senior guard Julijana Vojinovic added 12 points towards Duquesne’s cause off the bench. Duquesne coach Dan Burt is now 6-0 against VCU.

In the opening quarter, Duquesne shot 46.7 percent from the field against a VCU defense which ranks among the best in the NCAA in a variety of statistics.

Duquesne led for much of the first quarter, but in the closing minute found itself down four points. Angela Staffileno came in and tied the game, beating the buzzer with a deep two-point basket.

The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth in the second quarter, but a 2:45 scoreless streak allowed VCU to hold the 35-32 halftime advantage.

VCU was able to hold a slight advantage in the third quarter, winning it by two points to lead by five points after 30 minutes of play.

Duquesne next faces George Washington Wednesday at 7 p.m., looking to avenge its 55-54 home loss on Jan. 27. The Dukes will return home next Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. contest against St. Bonaventure as the team celebrates senior day.

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