James Ward | staff writer

Duquesne women’s basketball had a historic three-game stretch over the last week, winning all three games to maintain a perfect record to start the 2025 season.

The Dukes improved to 2-0 on Thursday with a dominant 108-53 victory over Slippery Rock at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

The Dukes’ offense was led by Gabby Grantham-Medley and Mackenzie Blackford, who each scored 17 points. Slippery Rock was paced by Sophia Hook’s 11 points.

Duquesne controlled the game from the start, outscoring Slippery Rock in all four quarters, including a 66-32 advantage by halftime and a 24-9 edge in the final quarter. The Dukes shot 52% from 3-point range, knocking down a dozen triples.

Blackford hit four three-pointers, and freshman Alexis Bordas added three on her way to 11 points. Slippery Rock was held to 34% shooting from the field.

Dunja Zecevic, who finished with 12 points, noted that the Dukes have been embracing her “right from the beginning.”

Blackford is confident in the team’s depth, showcased by Head Coach Dan Burt’s hockey-like line shifts, giving every player an opportunity.

“It can be anyone’s night any night,” Blackford said. “We’re so well rounded that anyone can have a good night, and pretty much everyone did today.”

Burt praised his team’s effort in a challenging game environment so early in the season. With a young, impressionable squad, Burt has been tested on his coaching abilities.

“These are very difficult games to coach in, and you want to exhibit grace and kindness while also being ruthless and relentless,” Burt said.

On Sunday afternoon in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Duquesne women’s basketball secured its first road victory of the season, defeating Western Michigan 72-64 at University Arena. The Dukes battled for a tough road win to improve to 3-0, defeating the Broncos (0-2) after holding a slim 33-30 lead at halftime.

Rebounding proved to be the decisive factor in the second half, as Duquesne outrebounded the Broncos 20-16 down the stretch.

Three Dukes reached double figures, spearheaded by freshman phenom Bordas, who delivered the best performance of her young career with 24 points, including 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Harriet Ford contributed 15 points and Zecevic added 10 for Duquesne. For Western Michigan, Alli Carlson and Ariana Wilkes each scored 11 points.

The final score belied the closeness of the contest. Duquesne struggled from the perimeter, making only 6 of 19 3-pointers. The Dukes shot 35% from the field and struggled at the free-throw line, going 9-for-16.

Western Michigan shot 43% from the field but was hampered by a 47% performance at the free-throw line and 23% from 3-point range.

Despite the shooting struggles, Duquesne dominated in key statistical areas, outscoring the Broncos 38-30 in points in the paint, 15-9 in second-chance points and 31-23 in bench points. The game was a tight, back-and-forth affair, featuring three ties and six lead changes before the Dukes pulled away for the victory.

Duquesne then breezed to a 102-73 win over West Liberty on Tuesday at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes had 69 rebounds, two shy of tying a program record, while tying the most recorded in the Dan Burt era.

Additionally, this was the seventh time in program history that the Dukes had crossed 100 points and the second time in three games Duquesne crossed the century mark.

Five Dukes scored in double figures on the night, led by Zecevic, who recorded the first double-double of her career with 19 points and 10 assists on 9-for-15 shooting. Bordas, Grantham-Medley, Blackford and Ford all added double-figures in points in the contest.

For the Hilltoppers, Dria Parker led the way with 20 points, and Abbie Davidson added 17 for the visiting team.

Duquesne shot 50% from the field, but just 3-for-11 from beyond the arc. They missed 12 free throws, shooting just 58% from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, West Liberty shot 33% from the field, but made 15 3-pointers as Parker led the way with six.

Zecevic praised her coaching staff for her performance. As a part of such a young team, confidence and comfortability in the coaching staff is essential.

“This [performance] would never have been possible if I didn’t have endless trust from the staff and my teammates,” Zecevic said.

James Ward can be reached at wardj11@duq.edu