PITTSBURGH – The University of Dayton women's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit to make it a one-possession game in the final minute, but was unable to overcome Duquesne Thursday in a 70-69 loss.

The Flyers (2-11, 1-1 A-10) suffer their first conference loss while the Dukes (11-4, 1-1 A-10) pick up their first league win.

KEY MOMENT
4^th quarter – 2 seconds – Dayton had it as a one-possession game after a late three from redshirt junior Destiny Bohanon, but Duquesne hit the free throw they needed to stay out of reach.

GAME BREAKDOWN
1^st Quarter: Dayton 11, Duquesne 17

• The Flyers struck first with a layup from senior Mariah Perez on the first possession, but the Dukes answered quickly with a three.
• The two teams traded leads over the next few minutes with neither team willing to give up control.
• At the media break, the score was tied 9-9 while UD had a 4-0 advantage on points in the paint.
• Duquesne went on a run during a four minute scoreless drought for Dayton and took a 17-9 lead with under two to play, forcing a Flyer timeout.
• The Flyers shot 31.3 percent in the opening 10 minutes while the Dukes shot 31.6 percent.

2^nd Quarter: Dayton 27, Duquesne 36

• The Flyers got a couple of big baskets to start the second from freshman Nayo Lear and Perez to make it a two-point game.
• A three by senior Sydney Freeman at the 7:31 mark put Dayton back on top 19-17, amidst a 10-2 Flyer run.
• The Dukes answered though and pulled back ahead 26-24 midway through the quarter with a 5-0 run of their own.
• Duquesne added to its lead with a couple of buckets out of the media timeout and extended its lead to seven.
• Four different Flyers had six points in the opening 20 minutes: Freeman, Perez, Lear, and sophomore Arianna Smith.
• UD outrebounded Duquesne 27-22, but gave up an 18-10 points in the paint advantage.

3^rd Quarter: Dayton 43, Duquesne 52

• The Dukes scored five points in the opening 40 seconds to make it a 14-point game in favor of the hosts.
• Dayton didn't get its first points of the second half until the 7:22 mark with a pair of free throws from Smith. The Flyers' first field goal was a three by junior Anyssa Jones with 5:43 on the clock.
• By the media break, UD closed a 16-point margin to 10 points with a 5-0 run over 45 seconds.
• Smith became the first Flyer in double digits with 11 points to go with her team-leading seven rebounds.
• The Flyers pulled within seven of the Dukes, forcing a Duquesne timeout with 1:10 to play.

4^th Quarter: Dayton 69, Duquesne 70

• Freeman drilled a three right out of the gate to cut the margin to six points, giving her nine for the game, all from behind the arc.
• Fouls started to pile up for the Flyers as the Dukes got easy points at the free throw line.
• A Dayton surge cut the lead to four at 58-54 with 5:59 to play.
• Freeman continued to hit threes and reached double figures as well, going 5-for-8 from behind the arc.
• The Flyers battled all the way to the end, but just ran out of time.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
13 and 14 – Arianna Smith recorded her first double-double as a Flyer with a season-high 13 points and career highs of 14 rebounds and five assists.
15 – Sydney Freeman hit five threes for 15 points to lead Dayton.
53 to 41 – The Flyers outrebounded the Dukes 53 to 41 in the contest.
10 – UD tied a season high with 10 made threes, shooting 34.7 percent in the game.
22 – The Flyers had 22 second chance points compared to the Dukes' 10 points.

KEY STAT
53 – Dayton had a season-high 53 rebounds in the effort.   

UP NEXT
The Flyers return home to host Fordham University Sunday, Jan. 8 at 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.