DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team returns home to open the New Year by hosting Duquesne University Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. at UD Arena. It will be National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS 
Dayton finished the calendar year with a 7-6 record overall and 0-2 A-10 mark. The Flyers are 4-1 at home this season and looking to get back on the winning track after a tough road loss at George Mason to end 2025.

Head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter is in her fourth season in charge of her hometown Flyers, coming over after a year at Wittenberg. She has assistant coaching stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Penn State, and Ohio State. 

The Flyers are averaging 65.4 points per game and giving up 67.3 points to opponents. Dayton is shooting 43.9 percent overall, 30.1 percent from three point range, and 65.8 percent from the free throw line. UD benefits from a +4.5 rebounding margin, but has to overcome a -4.6 turnover deficit.

Leading a balanced Dayton attack is senior Nayo Lear with 16.3 points per game in her fourth season in the Flyer uniform. Joining her is North Dakota State transfer Fatima Ibrahim with 8.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game and grad student Nicole Stephens with 8.2 points and 3.1 assists each outing. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
DUQUESNE 
Duquesne comes to Dayton as a battle-tested team with a 7-6 record on the year and also sits at 0-2 in league play. The Dukes are 2-4 away from home this season, having recently completed a five-game road stetch from Nov. 29-Dec. 14.

Head coach Dan Burt is one of the most tenured coaches in the Atlantic 10, coaching in his 13th year at DU. 

As a team, Duquense is scoring 71.7 points per contest while allowing just 64.6 points to opposing squads. The Dukes are averaging 39.5 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from behind the arc, and 64.8 percent from the charity stripe. Duquesne's +8.8 rebounding margin surpasses even UD's through 13 games. 

The Dukes are led by the double-digit scoring trio of Alexis Bordas (15.5 ppg), Nadia Moore (15.0 ppg), and Gabby Grantham-Medley (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg). Coach Burt has been consistent with lineups this season with five players starting nine or more games. 

LAST TIME OUT
Dayton went on the road to take on George Mason on New Year's Eve and suffered a 74-59 defeat in what was a closer game down the stretch than the score showed. Molly O'Riordan led the Flyers with 16 points and nine rebounds. 

Duquesne hosted Saint Louis Wednesday as well, but was unable to defend its home court in a 72-62 loss to the Billikens. It was the Dukes' first home defeat this season. 

SERIES HISTORY
Dayton and Duquesne are meeting for the 51st time in program history with the Flyers holding a narrow 26-24 series lead. UD won last year's contest, 80-71, in Pittsburgh. 

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