Duquesne WBB Advances In WNIT Behind Wasylson’s Heroics

Duquesne, down eight points with 1:03 remaining in the fourth quarter, rallied to defeat Monmouth 69-65 Monday night to advance to the WNIT’s Super 16.

Megan McConnell posted her ninth double-double of the season consisting of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Precious Johnson scored 15 points, while Jerni Kiaku put up 12 points.

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Lauren Wasylson, who took five free throws all season scored 11 points, making all eight shots from the charity stripe.

Duquesne dominated the paint 44-26 and recorded 40 bench points, to overcome a 3-for-16 effort from three-point range.

MOVIN’ ON 😎#GoDukes | @WomensNIT pic.twitter.com/x9PYEV5jUL

— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) March 26, 2024

Monmouth was led by Ariana Vanderhoop’s 18 points and Jania Hall contributed 16 points while drawing seven fouls. Belle Kranbuhl brought down 10 rebounds.

Early on Duquesne was the aggressor but it did not translate into points as Townsend misfired on each of the team’s opening three shots from the field.

Defensively, the Dukes were able to hold Monmouth with a made basket for the first 3:54 of game action.

Duquesne showed its rust early and often in the half as it mistimed several plays, at times appearing discombobulated on both ends of the floor.

This allowed the Hawks to get back in front. The Dukes did not help their cause converting one shot from the field following the first quarter media timeout.

Monmouth led 14-10 after the first quarter.

The early stages of the second quarter seemed to prove that Duquesne had figured it out, a fact evidenced by the Dukes scoring the first six points of the period.

The second quarter proved to have a similar recipe to its predecessor as the Hawks were held without a basket for the first 3:26 of game action.

A 7-0 Monmouth run put it in front, but the Dukes countered with the final six points of the half as the Hawks were held scoreless for the final 2:38 of the half.

After 20 minutes the teams were separated by a single point with Monmouth getting the better of it 25-24.

Duquesne would score the first two baskets of the quarter, once again starting a stanza as the aggressors, but Kaci Donovan’s three-point basket tied the game.

Both teams would battle for control, and when the dust settled, Monmouth led 44-41 heading into the final period.

For much of the quarter, neither team could separate from the other and Duquesne had its chances at the free throw line, but split foul shots.

When Vanderhoop made a pair of FTs, Monmouth led by eight points with 1:03 to play. ESPN would give the Hawks a 99.8% chance of victory.

Despite the deficit, no player on Duquesne’s bench kept its head down and instead were only more determined to play for each other.

First Wasylson buried a three-point shot and when she fouled Sandrine Clesca, both free throws were missed.

In the huddle, Duquesne’s offensive coordinator drew up a play for Wasylson, and the senior, determined not to see her collegiate career end, leaned in on a three-point shot and got a late whistle.

Wasylson slowed her heart rate and buried all three shots and as Monmouth called timeout, her teammates surrounded her as she fired the bench up.

Coming out of the huddle, Wasylson then encouraged a fan base already fired up by Duquesne President Ken Gormley and Hall split free throws.

On the ensuing Duquesne possession, Wasylson was once again fouled from beyond the arc, this time by Taisha Exanor who drew her fifth and disqualifying whistle.

Once again, Wasylson was able to make her free throws. When Monmouth came up empty as Wasylson switched onto Hall, the teams went to overtime.

The Dukes seized control of the overtime period but when Hall buried a jumper with 42 seconds remaining, the teams were once more tied.

Amaya Hamilton followed her own miss and with space scored the go-ahead basket. On the Monmouth possession, Hamilton ran into an illegal screen and drew the charging foul.

Big charge for #DuqWBB. Timeout Dukes up 67-65. 2.6 left in OT @PghSportsNow
. pic.twitter.com/3Z5mMzcsxX

— Zachary Weiss (@ZacharyMWeiss) March 26, 2024

When Duquesne inbounded the basketball, it looked for and found Wasylson who went back to the free throw line. Through some disbelief, Wasylson sank both putting the game out of reach.

Wasylson clutch at the line and #DuqWBB advances 69-65 in overtime @PghSportsNow. pic.twitter.com/UDEKXA8SsK

— Zachary Weiss (@ZacharyMWeiss) March 26, 2024

Duquesne’s Super 16 opponent is Purdue in a game university officials have confirmed to be a Thursday road contest. Game time was unknown as of the writing of this article.

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