Going into the game Duquesne (10-1) knew it would be a hard-fought battle against nationally ranked St. Johns (8-2), known for its prolific offense and three-point shooting prowess.
The Red Storm ranked number 25 in the AP Poll has averaged 71 points per game, no doubt aided by Danaejah Grant, a 5-9 senior from Piscataway, New Jersey, who is averaging 20 points per game.
The Red Storm’s only loss this season was to UCLA in its first game.
Saturday’s victory over St. Johns was the first time the women have beat a ranked team at home.
The lead switched back-and-forth through most of the first three periods with neither team being able to establish a commanding lead. The Red Storm saw its largest lead of the game come at the 8:05 mark in the third quarter when it was up by six, 36-30. Up until then, the Dukes zone defense kept the Red Storm away from the basket, holding it to a four point lead several times.
The Dukes kept to within four of the Red Storm until 4:09 remaining in the third quarter when a layup by DevaNyar Workman started Duquesne on the path to a 10-4 run which put Duquesne up 60-50 with 5:47 left in the game.
Duquesne’s head coach Dan Burt obviously well-pleased with the team’s performance started off his postgame news conference saying, “I’ll start by paraphrasing Ice Cube, ‘Today was a Good Day.'” It’s a great win for our program. It’s a great resume builder for us as an at-large team if we have to go that direction at the end of the year.”
DevaNyar Workman led the Duke’s scoring effort with a career-high 24 points and six rebounds. With 12 points, 11 rebounds, some key to the Duke’s victory, and one assist, Amadea Szamosi posted the games only double-double.
Other Duquesne players who posted double-digit points were April Robinson with 15, and Chassidy Omogrosso and Emilie Gronas each with 11.
Leading the scoring effort for St. Johns with 22 points was Jade Walker.
Overall, Duquesne was 43 percent from the paint and hit 47 percent of its three-pointers, and were 73 percent from the foul line.
Due in large part to Duquesne’s zone defense, Saint Johns hit a dismal eight percent of its three-pointers and were 37 percent from the paint.
Duquesne will take a break for the holidays and return to action on January 30, where they face crosstown rival Pitt at 2 p.m.
