Duquesne WBB Returns to WNIT

The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team officially made the WNIT as event organizers revealed in a Sunday night press release.

This is the second consecutive season that the Dukes have been an at-large selection in the event and 11th overall nod.

“With the youngest team in the A-10 and the best player possibly in non A4 basketball, we are very excited to continue our season,” Burt stated when contacted by PSN. “Our freshmen will experience postseason play for the first time, and what better player to lead them into the postseason than Meg McConnell.”

Duquesne first made the WNIT in the 2008-09 season under then-coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. This was a string of seven consecutive seasons having made the event.

What is known is that Duquesne will hit the road for the first-round game, which will be held at some point between Thursday and Saturday. What complicates matters in terms of finding a home game is that the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will all be contested at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Mar. 24-28, meaning should the Dukes make a run it may have to do so on the road.

Duquesne did win multiple road WNIT games in the 2017-18 besting Miami (Ohio) and Georgetown before succumbing to St. John’s in the Super 16.

In last season’s WNIT second-round game, the Dukes trailed by eight points with 1:03 before events unfolded that in some circles made Duquesne’s 69-65 overtime triumph over Monmouth become known as the Lauren Wasylson game as timely three-point baskets and free throws, saw an emotional senior and her team come away with a victory.

This season, Duquesne is 19-12 and a win would give Burt his seventh 20-win campaign.

Megan McConnell paces Duquesne leading the Atlantic 10 with her 18.3 points per game, which earned her Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors, while her 124 steals and seven rebounds per game saw her recognized as the conference’s defensive player of the year.

Additionally, McConnell entered the Atlantic 10 Championship ranked second in the nation both in steals and steals per game.

McConnell’s efforts have her as one of five finalists for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, among many accolades, of which there was a WNBA scout present for at least one of Duquesne’s home games.

This news also provides both Kiandra Browne and Gabby Hutcherson the opportunity to extend their collegiate playing careers by at least one more game.

Browne has started in 28 of 31 games where she has set a career high with 27 three-point field goals, grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game, has 42 assists, 21 steals and increased her points per game from 2.6 last year to 6.3.

Hutcherson has found joy on the court for Duquesne starting 21 of 30 contests averaging 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 32 blocks and making 39 threes.

This also means freshmen Mackenzie Blackford, Kellie McConnell, Nadia Moore, Fatou Sane and Faith Walker in addition to Reina Green will get their first taste of postseason basketball.

The official opponent and bracket itself will both be known on Monday. The WNIT has 48 teams with 11 automatically qualifying based upon winning its respective regular season championships. Massachusetts is the other Atlantic 10 team in the field.

UPDATE

Duquesne will be hosting Longwood Thursday at 6 p.m. at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. This is the third meeting between these two teams with the most recent being an 89-69 triumph, Dec. 19, 2023, where Tess Myers’s 35 points on a record 11 made three-point shots. Were Duquesne to advance it would hit the road to face Miami (OH).