While the 74-49 score may lead some to believe that Atlantic 10 Conference leader Duquesne (25-3, 13-2 A-10) had little difficulty in handing LaSalle (5-23, 2-13 A-10) its 23rd loss of the season, that wan’t the case up until the start of the third quarter, when the Dukes were able to establish and maintain a double-digit lead.
During much of the first half, Duquesne, despite its impressive offense led by senior April Robinson — who has thus far posted 1,516 career points, fifth in program history — was not able to establish a double-digit lead until senior Emilie Gronas hit a three-pointer with 1:38 remaining in the first half. This put the Dukes up 31-19. Robinson ended up with 16 points, four rebounds and six assists.
“It’s very clear she’s the leader of this program,” head coach Dan Burt said about Robinson after the game. “There’s so many things you can say about April Robinson and what she’s done, but the most important thing is you can say winner,” he added.
Burt said no one will come close to matching Robinson’s 92-game winning record by the time her career is finished.
With less than five minutes gone in the third quarter, a layup by senior Deva’Nyar Workman put the Dukes up by 19, with a score of 47-28. Burt said had Workman played at Duquesne for all four years she, “Would go down as one of the best 10-12 players that played here. She’s done some amazing things and to me she’s a first team all Atlantic 10 performer.”
LaSalle mounted a press defense at the start of the third quarter, which resulted in several steals and turnovers by Duquesne. They would come to within 11 points, 46-28 of tying the game, with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter.
The Dukes started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run that put them up by 18 points, 45-27, three minutes into the quarter, which grew to a 27 point advantage, 74-47, their largest of the game with 0;27 left. A layup by LaSalle’s Yonna Crenshaw with 0.10 left would be the final points of the game.
Duquesne held LaSalle to just 32 percent from the paint, and they were 0-8 in their three-point attempts. Amy Griffin with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists led LaSalle’s scoring efforts and was only one of two players posting a double-digit score. The other was Jordan Williams who ended up with 10 points and two rebounds.
Duquesne led by Kadri-Ann Lass’ 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists hit 41 percent and 35 percent of its three-pointers. Senior Amadea Szamosi posted a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
Duquesne faces a final game on the road against Saint Bonaventure on Saturday which they must win in order to clinch the top spot in the conference. A loss would place the Dukes in a tiebreaker situation with George Washington and Saint Louis. Duquesne would come up short because both of its conference looses this year have been to both of these teams.
