Duquesne WBB Holds Off Dayton, 70-69

The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team held on to defeat Dayton by a 70-69 count Thursday evening at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Amaya Hamilton scored 21 points, good for her second 20-plus point effort this season, while also setting a career high with 13 rebounds.

Duquesne basketball on Pittsburgh Sports Now is sponsored by The Summit Academy: setting young men on the path to a better future.

Naelle Bernard pieced 17 points together over the course of this game. Precious Johnson put together a 16-point, 9-rebound performance in 24 minutes, while she battled foul trouble.

Duquesne (11-4/1-1 Atlantic 10) was without both Ayanna Townsend and Olivia Westphal in this contest.

Dayton (2-11/1-1 A-10) saw Sydney Freeman lead the way with her 15 points, nine of which were scored in the final quarter. Arianna Smith earned her first double-double of the season posting 13 points and 15 rebounds. Both Destiny Bohanon and Anyssa Jones netted 12 points.

Dayton had won seven of the previous eight contests between the teams.

Early on, Duquesne coach Dan Burt got into a coach’s stance and requested that his team feed the post, only to be met with three-point attempts, two of which went in.

As Duquesne tried to combat Dayton’s passing, it switched into applying some pressure after baskets, which the Flyers had mixed success last night.

Bernard was able to amass five points in as many minutes.

Duquesne was able to dig in defensively and hold Dayton scoreless for 4:23, as it would go on an 11-2 run. During this period, Duquesne was able to effectively utilize high-post action, the find simple scores, one of which came when Megan McConnell found Johnson and Flyers coach Tamika Williams-Jeter called a timeout.

After one quarter, it was Duquesne in front by a 17-11 count after one quarter.

As play continued, Johnson got herself in foul trouble, getting whistled for two calls within 14 seconds. The latter whistle was her third foul, and Duquesne, already without Townsend had to get smaller in the post rotating along inside along with Hamilton.

Dayton would briefly take the lead on a 10-0 run, but Bernard’s and-one play refocused Duquesne’s efforts.

Though Duquesne would end the half on a small scoreless string, it did conclude on a 15-3 run, taking a 36-27 advantage into halftime.

In the third quarter, Duquesne scored the opening five points as Dayton was called for traveling on three consecutive possessions.

As the Flyers settled back in, Duquesne’s offense got out of sorts and Burt called a timeout, with his team’s advantage cut back to 10 points.

The media stoppage seemed to settle Duquesne for the duration of the quarter as the Dukes held a 52-43 lead.

Freeman caught fire converting a trio of three-point shots, allowing Dayton to get within a single possession on multiple occasions, but Duquesne remained in front with timely plays.

After the media timeout, both teams were unable to find much consistency and down the stretch, Bernard split free throws. Bohanon made a three as time expired, but with no whistles, the game went final.

Duquesne will continue A-10 play when it travels to face George Mason Sunday at 3 p.m. ESPN+ will carry the game.

POSTGAME VIDEOS