Duquesne WBB Wins Third Consecutive City Game
The Duquesne Women’s Basketball Team won its third consecutive City Game, triumphing 84-69 over Pitt Sunday afternoon at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Duquesne (7-5/0-1 Atlantic 10) led for nearly 37 minutes. It was paced by freshman guard Alexis Bordas who scored 38 points, the most by any freshman this season.
Bordas converted 10 three-point shots, a building record and one away from matching Tess Myers’s program best mark set Dec. 14, 2023, against Longwood, a contest held at La Roche University.
The 38 points also match the most scored by a Duquesne player in the Dan Burt era as Laia Sole had the same output in a Dec. 15, 2019 overtime victory against Saint Francis. Korie Hlede holds the program’s all-time mark with 42 points.
Mackenzie Blackford compiled 14 points for the Dukes, while Reina Green had 11 to go with six rebounds. Harriet Ford grabbed nine rebounds as well.
Duquesne won the rebounding battle 45-37.
Pitt (7-7/0-1 ACC) was paced by Mikayla Johnson’s season-high 23 points, while Theresa Hagans added 14 points and Amiya Jenkins 11.
The first quarter was an offensive affair, with both teams going on separate runs. Duquesne struck first taking a 9-4 lead as the Dukes converted three of their first five three-point attempts.
Pitt would rebound to the tune of an 11-2 run across 3:01, taking a lead going into the first media timeout.
A Fatou Sane three pointer keyed an 8-0 run which saw Duquesne take a lead once again. Pitt would tie the contest, but never would pull ahead again.
Duquesne closed the quarter on a 6-0 run leading 25-19 after 10 minutes, assisting on seven of nine made baskets.
In the second quarter, the Dukes built upon both their lead and momentum, holding Pitt to a 3-for-14 shooting performance from the field, as Duquesne outscored Pitt 24-10 in the period.
The scoring run reached 11-0 on a Bordas triple as Pitt spent its first timeout. Duquesne continued its success as Pitt made one field goal in the quarter’s first six minutes.
Panthers coach Tory Verdi called a second timeout after a Green basket brought Duquesne’s lead to 21. It would be 49-29 Dukes at halftime.
Neither team shot the ball at a high clip in the third quarter. Pitt was determined to cut into its deficit but an uneven quarter went to the visitors by a single point, meaning, Duquesne remained in the driver’s seat.
Nothing would change that in the fourth quarter with Bordas continuing to add to her stats highlighted by a three-point basket, rushing to steal the ball and going the distance for a layup as Pitt called its final timeout.
Duquesne will resume Atlantic 10 play in 10 days’ time hosting Saint Louis at 1 p.m. back at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Pitt will be on the road against Notre Dame Monday at 6 p.m.
Following the victory, Bordas, Blackford and Burt all spoke to PSN.
