Duquesne WBB Wins Fourth Straight; Burt 200 Career Wins

The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team kept to its winning ways, emerging victorious 73-57 over Loyola Chicago Sunday afternoon, and now are one of the top four teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, falling in line with one of its goals.

This win also gave coach Dan Burt his 200th career victory, this after achieving his 100th A-10 triumph Wednesday against Richmond.

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“Grew up playing basketball in a barn, I never thought this was going to happen,” Burt remarked. “I was an assistant coach for 15 years and I can just remember driving everywhere to go watch players play, whether Serbia, Macedonia, Hungary, Slovenia or West Virginia or Ohio and I always thought about what I would do if I was a head coach. If I became a head coach I would go down with the ship, but the kids were going to like me and respect me.”

Burt’s accomplishment was not the only milestone accomplished Sunday, as Ayanna Townsend scored her 1,000th career point in the first half.

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With her 2Q bucket, Ayanna Townsend reaches the 1,000 point mark in her career!#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/1fNphJ5iua

— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) January 28, 2024

Duquesne (12-8/7-2 A-10) was paced by Precious Johnson’s second double-double of the season, consisting of a campaign-best 15 points and 11 rebounds. Megan McConnell had another all-around game, amassing 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while not committing any turnovers.

Townsend put up 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 14 minutes as she battled foul trouble, and Nae Bernard also achieved 11 points.

The Dukes won the rebounding battle 46-35, were 40-22 victors in the paint, had 20 assists against 10 turnovers, three of which came in the first half and also posted 26 bench points.

“Really good win today and we won all four quarters, which after the shower I received, I’m trying to come to some words,” stated Burt. “It is really important to win all four quarters. We have shortened our rotation, but we found success with Precious Johnson and Ayanna Townsend coming in and really dominating in the post, doing it with bodies all over the place. They had a lot thrown at them but had success by keeping it simple. Meg played a great basketball game, and it was a great all-around game.”

Loyola Chicago (11-9/5-4 A-10) had Sam Galanopoulos lead the way with 14 points, Sitori Tanin earned her fourth double-double of this season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Alyssa Fisher netted 11 points.

The Ramblers opened the first quarter to a 10-6 start, before going cold from long range. Just under a minute later, a pair of field goals from Lauren Wasylson and Jerni Kiaku tied the contest and also started a 14-2 run which spanned the remainder of the frame.

Both sides of the ball.

With this rebound, Precious Johnson collects a double-double‼️

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With 6:46 left to play in the 4Q, Johnson has 13 points and 11 rebounds😤#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/MHH7D1ogI9

— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) January 28, 2024

Johnson took advantage of a post mismatch which first saw her make a basket off an Amaya Hamilton pass and next grab a rebound off of a missed three-point shot and after Emma Nolan’s foul, competed the three-point play at the free-throw line.

Duquesne’s advantage was 20-12 at quarter’s end.

In total the run reached 19-4 and Loyola Chicago went 8:51 between the opening two quarters without converting a field goal.

The Dukes edge was 39-29 at halftime as the ball rotated to the tune of 12 assists against three turnovers, shooting 51.5% in the process.

At halftime, the 2015-16 Duquesne Dukes were once again honored in front of fans for being honored in the university’s 2024 athletic hall of fame class, with point guard April Robinson also receiving individual recognition.

Duquesne’s advantage reached a high point of 16 in the third quarter but was 14 by period’s end.

The Dukes maintained composure in the final quarter and Tess Myers found her shot, draining a trio of three-point shots, two of which helped comprise a 9-0 run which gave the hosts a sizeable advantage.

Towards game’s end, Burt was able to bring Kait Ammons, Kiandra Browne, Raymi Coueta and Gabby Grantham-Medley in, getting each additional opportunities on the court.

Following the win and postgame handshakes, the players doused Burt with water as he spoke to the broadcast team and he was presented a barely-fitting jersey with a 200 on the front a nod to his new win total.

“One of the things you’ll find is the vast majority of kids that have come through our program have had a positive experience,” Burt explained. “In women’s basketball at the DI level that is incredibly rare. That is one of the things I’m most proud of… I’m really proud of the program we’ve built because we treat people the right way, do things the right way in the classroom and on the court. When I was 23, 24, 25-years old, I was a college basketball referee. Those people I yell at out there all of the time, I was one of them, so to make that jump at 27 and have the career I’ve had, I’m very lucky.”

Duquesne will turn back around and travel to face VCU Wednesday at 11 a.m.