Duquesne Women's Basketball
Duquesne WBB Sets Program Record In Overwhelming Victory
It was a record-setting night for the Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team as the Dukes set a program best forcing 38 turnovers in a 100-65 victory over Niagara Saturday night at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
“We’re happy to get a win and do it in pretty convincing fashion,” Duquesne coach Dan Burt explained. “We knew this game would be an interesting game because of the way Niagara plays. They’re a team which forces you to play Helter Skelter and forces you into some things. Too many turnovers. We took care of what we needed to do.”
Duquesne (2-1) was paced by Jerni Kiaku’s 24 points, on 10-of-12 shooting. While her 24 points were one off matching a personal best, her 10 makes were two better than her previous high.
“I’m just happy the patience was there,” revealed Kiaku. “I wasn’t trying to force anything and allowed the game to come to me. I’m so happy that my teammates trust me enough to put me in positions with the ball.”
Megan McConnell played 28 minutes in Saturday’s effort but put in an all-around effort, needing nine shots to score 15 points, while also grabbing five rebounds, recording six assists and earning seven steals, one off a personal best.
Mackenzie Blackford had her most impactful game in a Duquesne uniform as the freshman guard posted 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and amassed three steals of her own.
“Coach Burt always says that you never know when your name is going to be called,” she opined. “I think I was in the right spots at the right times a few times and it was just a really fun game.”
End of 1Q | DUQ: 31, NIA: 17
Fast tempo first quarter as the Dukes shoot 72.2% from the floor. Kiaku leads with 8 points, Blackford has 7 points and 3 assists#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/7BCYOfQsT6
— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) November 17, 2024
Duquesne’s 25 steals matched a program record. It also had decisive advantages in assists (24-10), bench points (44-24), fastbreak points (39-12), points off turnovers (45-19) and points in the paint (50-22).
The 38 turnovers forced bested the previous program record of 36 set twice, but most recently Mar. 2, 2002 against Temple.
Niagara (0-4) was paced by Marlie Dickerson’s 20 points off the bench. Safiatu Kolliegbo totaled 16 points, and Amelia Strong 12.
It was an ideal start for Duquesne which made its first four shots from the field, taking a 9-2 lead as Niagara called a timeout.
MCCONNELL takes it herself 😤#GoDukes | @megg_mcconnell4 pic.twitter.com/nze7vbjNHN
— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) November 17, 2024
This sequence began immediately following the opening tipoff as Kiaku grabbed the ball and successfully drove to the basket for a layup.
Once again, Duquesne utilized all available bodies as all 13 Dukes saw the court in the first half.
Nadia Moore made her presence known on the offensive end as she was fouled in the act of taking a three-point shot and drained all three free throws, allowing Duquesne to get some composure back and set up its defense, as the advantage reached 11 points.
Duquesne’s defense wreaked havoc with Blackford forcing multiple turnovers and then being rewarded for running the floor and burying jump shots. When Kiandra Browne found Blackford, the lead reached 15 points.
The Dukes shot 72.2% from the floor in the opening 10 minutes, taking a 31-17 lead heading into the second quarter.
Duquesne faced some offensive struggles in the second quarter as was 2-for-12 from the field and failed to connect on any of its five three-point shots heading into the media timeout. Despite this, the lead was at seven points as the stoppage occurred.
The offense settled back in once Kaitlyn Ammons and Megan McConnell each converted a three-point basket.
Come halftime, the lead was at 52-38.
The third quarter proved a near carbon copy of the first period as Duquesne nailed each of its opening six shots from the field and Niagara used an early timeout.
“We know playing this way puts us in a position where the game can swing at any moment,” Kiaku analyzed. “The beautiful thing about it is it can swing our way just as quick. Just trusting that, staying the course and waiting for our run to swing it back our way.”
Duquesne’s advantage first exceeded 20 points when Megan McConnell earned a steal, her sixth of the contest and finessed a pass to Kiaku, who drove at top speed for a layup.
(4:30) | DUQ: 67, NIA: 43
Dukes open the second half on a 15-5 stint, shooting 6-of-6 from the floor. DU has forced Niagara into 25 turnovers
Kiaku leads all scorers with 16, McConnell with 14 and 6 steals, Blackford with 10 of the bench#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/XIXVsVBopS
— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) November 17, 2024
This advantage reached 78-52 after three quarters and Duquesne shot 84.6% from the field, making 11 of 13 shots.
Duquesne scored the first seven points of the final stanza, with Kiaku accounting for five of them. Coach Dan Burt brought the starters to the bench, allowing some of the underclassmen additional minutes on the court.
INSANE play by the Dukes 🫣🤩#GoDukes | @gabby_hutch pic.twitter.com/jVySuQv44F
— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) November 17, 2024
In this game both Fatou Sane and Faith Walker scored their first career collegiate points. While Duquesne was experiencing success on the court the bench remained locked into the game, encouraging teammates, laughing, getting down on its knees and locking arms.
Faith in the shot, cash in the net🫡#GoDukes | @faithwalker_3 pic.twitter.com/ykVoZECZWh
— Duquesne Women’s Basketball (@DuqWBB) November 17, 2024
The Dukes next hit the road as it faces Kent State in a 7 p.m. contest carried by ESPN+.
“As a team I think we learned we can play with anybody and compete at the highest level,” concluded Kiaku. “We’re connected, we trust each other, we love each other and that shows. From 1-14 we believe that, that’s our attitude and the way we approach it. We’re special, our character is special, the only thing we can improve is on the court. That’s what it’s going to be and I love that about us. It’s game three and it can only be on an upward trajectory.”
POSTGAME VIDEOS
SHE SAID IT
“We’ve been working on that, being more patient and it really paid off tonight. There were a few times where we got sped up by them, but I think we came back from that for the most part and were patient.” – Blackford
