The Dukes looked like two different teams in the first half. Struggling to assert themselves inside and missing some outside shots by wide margins, the upset-minded Rams took an 18-11 edge midway through the first half.
But someone woke up Duquesne in the final three and a half minutes, beginning with four points in four seconds after a basket, steal on the inbounds pass, and subsquent basket to tie the game at 27. That came in the midst of a 10-0 Dukes run to end the half, giving them the 31-27 lead.
Rhode Island's earlier open lanes to the basket became glued shut, as the Rams missed their last three shots of the half, unable to counteract the run. While April Robinson and Raegan Moore lead Duquesne with 8 points each, it was the play of Olivia Bresnahan during the run that gave the Dukes the much-needed spark.
Three Rhode Island players have six points: Tayra Melendez, Kerry Wallack and Sydney Lewis, who has two personal fouls.
These two teams played last Saturday in Rhode Island, the Rams falling by just three. But what looked to be a trap game early for an out-of-sync Dukes squad is now firmly in their grasp with 20 minutes to play.
The winner meets #3 seeded Fordham tomorrow night in the 7:30pm quarterfinal at the Richmond Coliseum.
RVA Sports Network Coverage of Women's Basketball, Part of Our Year Of Women's Sports Initiative!
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