Dukes edge Redhawks

What better way to cap off Kids Education Day then to educate everyone in the A.J. Palumbo Center of how elite the Dukes' defense is?

With a minute left in the Dukes' win over Miami (Ohio), the red and blue had possession exiting a timeout with a 64-63 lead. The possession resulted in an intercepted pass from Alex Gensler that gave Miami the ball with 30.7 seconds to play. The Dukes' staunch defense executed perfectly not allowing the Redhawks to have an open shot or execute their offense. 

Following a missed Miami layup, the whistle blew with just over 10 seconds left in the game and confusion ensued as the referees huddled discussing the previous play. 

"[The referees] just said they called a jump ball.  That's the only explanation I got," coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. "When Wumi [Agunbiade] got the rebound I anticipated they would foul us … and all of a sudden it was their ball."

But the Dukes continued their defensive clinic.

"A reminder was that player would slip to the basket and that's exactly what happened. Alex [Gensler] got beat to the basket and somehow found a way to block that shot. It was a great play by Alex," McConnell-Serio said.

The Dukes would regain possession and claim their fourth straight win, 64-63.

The game started off ugly as the 11 a.m. start seemed to have everyone a little groggy. With 7:52 remaining in the first half, the Dukes were 4 of 17 (23.5%) from the field. Then senior point guard Vanessa Abel woke everyone up with a steal and a driving lay-up. That bucket kick started a run that brought the Dukes back from a 17-12 Miami lead to a 29-26 three-point halftime lead. 

Junior guard Jocelyn Floyd had a big part in keeping the Dukes in it in the first half finishing the half with 4 steals and 4 rebounds and leading the team in both categories through 20 minutes.

The Dukes stormed out of the locker room filled with energy and motivation.  They started off the second half with an 11 to 1 run in the first two minutes. 

"We have to come out in the second half with a little more energy and a little bit more fire to counter the other team. We want to set the tone offensively and defensively and I think we did that in the second half," Gensler, who came in leading the Atlantic 10 in points per game, said.

Agunbiade expected the early start following an education clinic with students from the region's schools would upset the early pace.

"We knew coming into this game that we might come out to a slow start … we dealt with it and came out with the win." Wumi Agunbiade said.

The Dukes maintained a steady lead throughout much of the second half, but a feisty Redhawk attack kept the game close to the closing possession.

Agunbiade led the team with 16 points. Sophomore forward Orsi Szecsi contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and one of the team's three 3-pointers. Gensler had 11 points and three blocks. Abel added nine points and 2 steals. 

McConnell-Serio and the team appreciated the opportunity to play in front of elementary students was great.

"It was a great atmosphere. It was great to see so many schools here to support us. We hope they enjoyed the day and will come back to see us," McConnell-Serio said. "So many people were telling me they wanted overtime so that they didn't have to go back to school."

With this win, the Dukes move into a tie with St. Bonaventure for the top spot in the A10. They will take on Morehead State (2-6) on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the A.J. Palumbo Center.