PITTSBURGH - The University of Dayton women's basketball team went on the road to Duquesne University Wednesday and earned an 80-71 victory.
 
The Flyers (11-6, 5-1 A-10) won their fifth straight while the Dukes (11-6, 2-4 A-10) drop their third straight at home.
 
GAME BREAKDOWN
 
1st Quarter: Dayton 14, Duquesne 21

• Dayton was the first to strike with a putback by senior Arianna Smith at the 8:40 mark.
• Duquesne didn't get on the board until 7:51 to play in the quarter.
• After a fast-paced start by both teams and a barrage of traded-baskets, the game was tied at 9-9 midway through the first.
• Graduate student Nicole Stephens hit a big three from the corner with 3:52 on the clock and followed up with a pullup jumper next possession to put UD up 14-11.
• The Dukes answered once again to put a 10-0 run over 2:36 and took back the lead 21-14 heading into the second.
• Stephens had a team-high seven points on 3-of-4 shooting and two boards in the first.

2nd Quarter: Dayton 35, Duquesne 35

• Stephens picked up where she left off in the second, hitting another three and being the first player in double digits with 10.
• Duquesne didn't score in the quarter until the 7:45 mark, but still led 23-17.
• Freshman Olivia Leung completed an and-one to get Dayton some momentum back.
• Fouls started to pile up for the Flyers with multiple people in foul trouble.
• At the media break, UD trailed by four, 30-26.
• A spin and jumper by freshman Molly O'Riordan put UD back on top 31-30 with just over three minutes in the half.
• Stephens led the way with 13 points while Leung had 10 points.

3rd Quarter: Dayton 59, Duquesne 57

• Duquesne came out aggressive in the third and scored the first five points of the quarter, leading 40-35 after a minute.
• Stephens answered yet again with a big three to end the skid.
• Senior Ivy Wolf hit a big three with 6:00 to go in the quarter and tied the game up at 46-46.
• The score remained deadlocked through the midway point in the quarter before another three by Wolf put UD ahead by one.
• Wolf scored all nine of her points in the third.

4th Quarter: Dayton 80, Duquesne 71

• Both teams were only able to score from the free throw line in the opening two and a half minutes of the quarter.
• Graduate student Rikki Harris had a smart drive to the basket and the foul to put UD up 67-62 at the 7:00 mark.
• Wolf then hit her fourth three to force a Duquesne timeout, leading 70-62.
• Smith got the margin to double digits with a contested bucket under four to go and Dayton ahead 73-62 amidst a 4:36 scoring drought for the Dukes.
• Duquesne closed the gap to just four with just over two on the clock before a three by Harris gave UD a little more room at seven points.
• Dayton hit its free throws down the stretch and held on for the road win.

 
KEY STATS
22 – Nicole Stephens led the way and scored a career-high 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 4-of-6 from three.
9 and 10 – Rikki Harris was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and tied a career-high 10 rebounds.  
18 – Dayton had 18 assists on 26 made field goals in the game.
48% - Duquesne shot just 48 percent from the free throw line, going 12-of-25.
4-4-4 – Three Flyers had four assists each in Ivy Wolf, Stephens, and senior Shannon Wheeler.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers remain on the road to take on Fordham University Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at Rose Hill Gym.
 
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