Matthew Theodros | staff writer

The Duquesne women’s basketball team saw its season come to a close last Friday night with a hard-fought 55-52 loss to Cleveland State in the Super 16 of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at the Wolstein Center. The Dukes wrap up the 2024-25 campaign with a 21-13 record, tying for the sixth-most wins in program history.

Duquesne opened the fourth quarter with a five-point lead but found themselves in a back-and-forth battle down the stretch. Despite late-game efforts, including a layup from Jerni Kiaku to tie it at 52 with under a minute remaining, the Dukes were unable to convert on their final two possessions, falling just short in a tightly contested finish.

Despite the loss, the Dukes’ defensive intensity was on full display with their backs once again against the wall, holding an offensive heavy Cleveland State offense to just 55 in regulation. Their coverage and pressure set the tone throughout the contest.

“We played a very good basketball team that’s extremely well-coached and plays a unique style with their matchup zone,” Duquesne Head Coach Dan Burt said. “They came in averaging 77 points per game, and from a defensive standpoint, we did an outstanding job holding them to just 55. We were able to shut them down offensively, and that’s a credit to our preparation and effort.”

The Dukes carried a solid 29-18 lead into halftime, fueled by their strong defensive effort and the Vikings’ dismal 3-point shooting. Cleveland entered the break with its lowest point total of the season and shooting just 1 for 13 from beyond the arc, its worst mark of the year thus far.

Offensive struggles and poor perimeter shooting proved detrimental for the Dukes, who connected on just 5 of 22 attempts from 3-point range, including a dismal 2-of-11 in the second half. Although the turnover margin was narrow, with Duquesne committing 15 to the Vikings’ 12, the difference proved pivotal in a neck-and-neck-matchup.

Friday’s narrow loss highlighted a familiar theme for the Dukes, who have repeatedly found themselves on the wrong end of close contests this season. The defeat marked their eighth loss decided by three possessions or fewer, an unfortunate trend that, with a few different bounces, could have dramatically altered the narrative of their season.

Kiaku led the Dukes in scoring with 15 points, while Mackenzie Blackford added 12. Megan McConnell, in her final appearance in a Duquesne uniform, contributed 11 to end her remarkable career. She leaves the program as its all-time leader in assists, triple-doubles (4), and steals (370), while also ranking second in both rebounds (1,079) and points (1,795). Her 626 points this season stand as the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.

Fans will have another opportunity to watch McConnell showcase her skills during the 2025 Lilly Women’s College All-Star Game on April 5. The event features the nation’s top senior college basketball players, offering them a final chance to represent their programs. Additionally, she will participate in the inaugural Women’s College All-Star Combine , where she’ll look to impress professional scouts in her pursuit of a spot in the WNBA Draft.

This season also marks the end of several other players’ careers as Dukes. Gabby Hutcherson, Kiandra Browne and Kaitlyn Ammons each wrap up their time at Duquesne, having made meaningful contributions and leaving their marks on the program.

Last week’s loss may have brought about a bittersweet moment for the team, both the sting of defeat and the uncertainty of upcoming roster change. Beyond that was a group of players who, in the eyes of those around them, consistently showed up, fought for one another and gave their all every single night.

“I loved this year, I loved this team, we had no issues off the floor, we had no selfishness. We just had kids that came to work and enjoyed being there every day,” Burt said.

“It’ll be hard on Sunday for us not to get back and start practice again. It’ll be hard for every one of us, and it’s going to hit us like a brick wall, but that’s part of what college basketball is. I just couldn’t be prouder of our team this season.”