Duquesne WBB Falls Short In Regular-Season Finale

The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team was looking to exact revenge on a Saint Joseph’s squad which ended its season a year ago, but fell short 64-60 Sunday afternoon at Hagan Arena.

Duquesne (18-11/8-8 Atlantic 10) was led by both Precious Johnson and Tess Myers, each of whom scored 12 points. Myers made her 200th career three-point basket in this game.

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Megan McConnell grabbed 12 more rebounds, giving her 287 on the season, she is another dozen away from setting the all-time single-season record. This is her 16th contest of the campaign with at least 10 rebounds

The Dukes led for 22:11 of game action, compared to 8:41 for their opponent.

Saint Joseph’s (19-9/9-7 A-10) saw Talya Brugler lead the lead with 25 points and eight rebounds. Mackenzie Smith also had a sizeable contribution with 23 points and several timely plays. Laura Ziegler grabbed 12 rebounds to assist the Hawks cause.

Duquesne opened this contest on a 7-2 run, with three different players scoring. Naelle Bernard’s three-point basket, on an Amaya Hamilton pass, was the exclamation point on this brief run.

The quarter featured multiple ties, but each instance featured a Dukes response. Another Bernard triple left Duquesne in front 12-9 as Saint Joseph’s was contained to a 28.6 shooting clip.

After the Hawks again drew an equalizer from downtown, it was the Dukes matching its first-quarter scoring, with a 7-2 flurry to break out of the tie.

Lauren Wasylson opened the run with a three-point basket, before Duquesne went to the post for consecutive scores.

Duquesne led by seven with less than three minutes remaining in the first half when Myers again connected from downtown, but the lead would dwindle to 27-25 at halftime as the Hawks connected twice in the final 39 seconds.

Both teams were quite effective from the field in the third quarter, with Smith again tying this contest, before Townsend converted an and-one opportunity.

While each side again battled for control, Duquesne had a breakthrough when McConnell found Wasylson for a trifecta, giving the Dukes a nine-point edge, its largest of the afternoon.

Saint Joseph’s battled back as its disadvantage was reduced to 47-44 heading into the final quarter.

There, a scoreless streak which went into effect in the third quarter, reached 5:31. The Hawks took full advantage, to the tune of a 15-2 run, activating a Duquesne timeout. The streak ended when Hamilton connected on a hook shot.

Duquesne’s would climb as high as five points, but with 49 seconds remaining in regulation, Johnson’s layup had the team’s separated by a point. The potential game-tying free throw was off the mark and on the ensuing Hawks possession, Smith again converted, this time on the drive.

The Dukes attempted to remain in the game but committed a turnover, as time ran out.

Duquesne will await its placement in the Atlantic 10 Championships as the conference will release the full tournament bracket Saturday night shortly following the conclusion of the St. Bonaventure-Richmond game.

The championship will be held in Wilmington’s Chase Fieldhouse for a second consecutive season. Massachusetts won last year’s event and the automatic NCAA Tournament berth which came with it.

Duquesne WBB +/-

Precious Johnson +146

Megan McConnell +143

Tess Myers +106

Amaya Hamilton +92

Naelle Bernard +87

Ayanna Townsend +51

Olivia Westphal +48

Lauren Wasylson +16

Singo Lekeuneu -1

Aniya Walker -2

Reilly Sunday -27

A-10 only

Precious Johnson +22

Megan McConnell +15

Ayanna Townsend +14

Naelle Bernard +11

Lauren Wasylson +10

Tess Myers +5

Olivia Westphal +5

Amaya Hamilton -6

Singo Lekeuneu -6

Aniya Walker -11

Reilly Sunday -47