Duquesne WBB Prevails In County Game Behind Megan McConnell’s Triple Double

Megan McConnell’s third career triple double paced Duquesne as it won the County Game 77-61 Monday night at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

McConnell compiled 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. This triple double was her first since Dec. 4, 2022 at Delaware.

Duquesne men's and women's basketball on PSN is sponsored by Moon Golf Club.

Joining McConnell in double figures was Nadia Moore who scored a season and career high 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and Jerni Kiaku chimed in with 12 points.

Duquesne (3-2) also forced 25 turnovers and scored 23 points off those miscues. The Dukes also scored 22 points in the paint.

RMU (2-4) saw Madison O’Dell achieve 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The Colonials bench outscored Duquesne 35-26.

RMU opened up to the tune of an 8-0 run over the first 2:44 of game action. Raissa Nsabua capped off the scoring with a three-point basket.

Duquesne opened this stretch with an 18.2% shooting clip but remained in the game forcing several turnovers as it tried to generate offense.

Moore was a force early on as she made a pair of three-point shots and RMU’s lead was 16-15 after one quarter.

Duquesne took control of the game in the second quarter, opening on an 11-0 run, and 19-2 overall dating back to 1:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Robert Morris called a timeout almost immediately after Moore hit another three-point shot.

Duquesne’s lead reached double digits on multiple occasions, and the largest margin was 11 points after a Megan McConnell three-point basket, but a 9-0 RMU response, capped off by an O’Dell three-point play, separated the teams by a 36-34 mark at halftime.

The run extended to 12-0 as RMU briefly regained the lead after an Isys Grady three-point field goal, but seven seconds later, Kiandra Browne did the same as the Dukes would not look back.

Duquesne broke three with Megan McConnell and Moore each converting from three-point range, separating the teams by 10 points as RMU called another timeout.

Ultimately the timeout did not stop what would become a 14-0 Duquesne run as it led by 18 points and 64-49 after three quarters.

The Colonials established a bit of a response at the end of the third quarter but made one of its first seven shots. Mackenzie Blackford would drill a three-point shot, placing Duquesne in front by 21 points.

Megan McConnell was subbed out with 6:45 remaining in regulation and was two rebounds shy of a triple double. Fans anxiously awaited and hoped for her return and that came just over two minutes later.

She would grab a rebound and then grab a 10th after her initial shot was blocked and the building erupted in applause. Right after she was fouled on the play, her cousin Kellie took her place allowing for her teammates to celebrate and for the ovation to only grow.

Duquesne next hosts Saint Francis Sunday at 2 p.m. RMU will do the same with a Friday 2 p.m. tip against Bucknell.

POSTGAME VIDEOS