PITTSBURGH – A week ago, the Duquesne women’s basketball team watched its 15-game winning streak halted on its home floor. Saturday afternoon, it was the Dukes who handed St. Bonaventure its first loss since late November, 74-62, inside the Palumbo Center.
Saturday’s setback snaps what was a 16-game winning streak for the Bonnies, second longest in program history. St. Bonaventure falls to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the Atlantic 10 while Duquesne improves to 16-2, 5-1.
Katie Healy tallied 20 points along with three blocks and three steals while Nyla Rueter added 13 points and Miranda Drummond 12, but it was not enough to overcome a first half attack from the Dukes.
Duquesne had its way offensively during the first half, making 11 of its first 18 shots from the floor on the way to shooting 50 percent (17-34) during the opening 20 minutes. The Bonnies led 7-2 early, but a 15-0 run from the Dukes gave the hosts control.
The Dukes scored 26 points during the first period – the most allowed by the Bona defense in any quarter this season – and followed that up with 19 more during the second quarter for a 45-30 lead at halftime. St. Bonaventure closed to a 20-18 score late in the first, but another 10-0 break from the Dukes pushed the lead back out to 30-18.
Senior April Robinson led the charge with 17 points before intermission, and the work of the Dukes on the offensive glass proved especially damaging – Duquesne pulled down eight offensive rebounds resulting in 12 second chance points in the first half.
Duquesne built its lead to 20 at 41-21 following a basket from Angela Staffileno with 2:13 left in the half before Emily Michael gave the Bonnies a bit of a spark with back-to-back three-pointers before the halftime buzzer.
The Bonnies played more characteristically on the defensive end in the third quarter, holding the Dukes to 3-of-15 from the field while narrowing the deficit to 53-42 heading for the fourth.
Duquesne opened the final period strong, however, driving the lead back to 17 with 7:08 to play. The Bonnies would get as close as 12 following a trey from Rueter for a 72-60 score with 2:39 remaining, but could get no closer.
Robinson finished with 20 points, adding eight rebounds Kadri-Ann Lass posted 16 points and seven boards.
The Dukes shot just 9-of-28 during the second half, but still finished at 41.9 percent for the game thanks to their hot start. Duquesne won the battle of the boards by a 41-28 margin.
St. Bonaventure returns to action Wednesday at the Reilly Center, hosting Saint Joseph’s at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Duquesne entered the day ranked No. 44 in the RPI standings and received votes in this week’s USA Today Coaches Top 25. The Dukes were ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll before falling to George Washington last Sunday … Saturday marked the 23rd game of Healy’s career with 20 or more points … Michael hit a season-high three treys, one off her career high. The senior guard also led the Bonnies with five assists.
