FIRST ROUND: Duquesne survives Rhode Island....

"It wasn't the prettiest game of basketball ever played," said Duquesne head coach Dan Burt. "But I thought we were the better team."

The Dukes defeated Rhode Island 61-53 to advance in the final first round game of the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Tournament Thursday night, as three players were in double figures, led by Olivia Bresnahan with 14.

It was Bresnahan that helped turn the game around for the Dukes, who spent much of the first half in a lethargic state, having trouble getting their inside game going due to Rhode Island, as Burt put it, "mucking up" the middle. While Olivia was only three-of-ten from the field, one of the baskets came during a 10-0 run in the final 3:24 of the half to turn a 27-21 deficit to a 31-27 lead.

"We were only 11 of 13 from the line, but they were all important," Burt added. "Liv went 8 of 9 at the line and they were very important points."

"Credit to Duquesne," said Rhode Island head coach Cathy Inglese. "But I was very, very proud of my team. They never quit. They didn't come here satisfied to be an 11 seed. I'm glad they're devastated, they're disappointed."

Senior guard Kerry Wallack was also proud, being that tonight's game was the first appearance for Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Previous tournaments did not have every team in the conference participating.

"For us to be a part of playing in the tournament, as a senior, that's such a big honor," Wallack said. Kerry had nine points. Sydney Lewis led Rhode Island (7-23) with 11 points.

Rhode Island was picked by A-10 coaches to finish #13 (last) in the conference. They finished 11th. They'll lose just Wallack from the active roster to graduation (fellow senior Emilie Cloutier was out for the season with an injury.) Like St. Louis, George Mason and UMass, the Rams will work hard in the off-season to try to return to the Richmond Coliseum in 2015 as the higher seed in the First Round, rather than the lower.

It's all a part of growth in the Atlantic 10.

As for Duquesne, now 19-11? They face Fordham in the 4th and final quarterfinal at 7:30pm Friday.