Duquesne WBB Dominates Saint Louis On Senior Day

The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team led for more than 39 minutes, besting Saint Louis on senior day 84-72 Saturday afternoon at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne (17-10/8-8 Atlantic 10) saw Megan McConnell post her seventh double-double and second in a row with 22 points and 11 rebounds. McConnell, who was 7-for-10 from the field also grabbed seven rebounds.

Gabby Hutcherson potentially had the best game in her collegiate career earned her first career double-double depositing 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Jerni Kiaku went 5-for-6 from the field, putting in 16 points and Mackenzie Blackford contributed 11 points off the bench.

Duquesne won the rebounding battle for the seventh time this season 43-39 and had 20 assists on 27 made baskets, while shooting 48.2% from the field.

Saint Louis (12-17/6-10 A-10) was paced by Peyton Kennedy who scored 16 of her 19 points in the second half. It was Kennedy’s highest point total in conference play. Tierra Simon posted 18 points and nine rebounds, while Kennedy Calhoun chimed in with 12 points.

Early on Duquesne utilized a defense it considers its “goalie” and SLU was unable to create driving lanes to get to the basket.

While the Billikens took a 7-6 lead, on the back of a 5-0 run in the first quarter, it would never again gain the upper hand on the scoreboard.

Duquesne’s reply was a 8-0 run as Kiaku had the opportunity for an and-one play. The Dukes led by double digits, but SLU had the last four points of the first quarter including Calhoun driving down the court in four seconds to beat the buzzer, reducing Duquesne’s lead to 22-15 after 10 minutes.

One of Saint Louis’s biggest strengths is the ability to get second chance opportunities, but offensive rebounds were hard to come by in the opening quarter. In the second quarter SLU began to generate rebounds but was reduced to two second-chance points.

As was the case in the first quarter, Hutcherson began the second 10 minutes with a three-point shot. A quick five points around the midpoint of the second quarter saw the Billikens spend a timeout, its deficit returning to double digits.

This was in the middle of a 13-6 run that stretched the lead to 41-27. At halftime, Duquesne was in front 50-31.

SLU appeared to string plays together in the third quarter scored baskets on its first two offensive possessions, but Duquesne would get back into the flow and a McConnell three pointer stretched the advantage to 22 points, part of an 8-0 timeout, forcing another Billikens timeout.

Kennedy began to find form in the third quarter, making baskets and displaying the form that earned her Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference First Team placement.

Despite those efforts, Duquesne led 69-46 after three quarters.

The Billikens were the aggressors in the final quarter. Kennedy scored 12 of SLU’s first 14 points as the lead was reduced to 15 points.

While Duquesne went three minutes without a field goal, a Nadia Moore triple brought the lead back to 18 points as it filled the remainder of the quarter.

As the game neared its conclusion, Duquesne which celebrated its senior day by honoring Hutcherson, McConnell, Kiandra Browne and Kaitlyn Ammons, subbed both of the first two out separately inside of the final minute.

When McConnell departed the court, she went to the center and kissed the floor as the 1,268 in attendance gave her a standing ovation.

Duquesne still has one last home game which comes Wednesday morning against St. Bonaventure at 11 a.m. Approximately 3,000 school students will be in attendance.

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