Women’s basketball surges in second half

Nothing seemed to slip through the net except a 3-pointer from Orsi Szecsi in the first four minutes, but the Dukes used a defensive-minded mentality to claim a win over the University of Massachusetts Wednesday night at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

The 76-62 win kept the Dukes at a perfect 10-0 at home this season.  

It was a slow start for both teams, who combined for only 13 points in the first six minutes, but the flood gates opened for the Dukes when Carly Vendemia came off the bench.

Vendemia had 10 points and was the first of four Dukes to reach double figures, impressing coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. 

"Carly has always been that player that has come off of the bench, and she's been very productive and efficient coming off the bench for us. It's great to have that," McConnell-Serio said. 

Vendemia sees herself as a player ready for the game despite not being in the starting lineup. 

"Going into the game, I usually am supposed to be an energy player and supposed to be ready to go," Vendemia said. "When I got the ball, I just did what I had to do: make the play, and make the simple baskets and do what I had to do in order to produce work."

Also in double figures for the Dukes were Alex Gensler with 23, Wumi Agunbiade with 18 and Szecsi with 13 points. Agunbiade registered a double-double with 10 rebounds. 

The Dukes have begun to rely more on players off of the bench after losing Vanessa Abel, who will miss a few more weeks with a stress fracture of the patella. 

"When you lose a point guard, you lose a starter," McConnell-Serio said. "Somebody then goes into the starting lineup, and what that does is deplete your depth. It's now finding that depth that we don't have."

The Minutewomen kept with the Dukes in the first half, and were led by Megan Zullo, who scored 15 in the first half and ended the game scoring 21 on seven 3-pointers. 

McConnell-Serio believes Zullo helped rejuvenate and power the Minutewomen. 

"Obviously, we didn't read the scouting report very well with allowing Megan Zullo to go seven of 10 from the 3-point line and identifying the shooter. But she was a great player tonight for them and really got them going, and I think they fed off of her scoring, her productivity and gave them energy offensively and defensively," McConnell-Serio said. 

The Dukes ended up winning the rebound battle 42-30, something they have been working on all season long.

"We were definitely focused on [rebounds], especially at halftime," Gensler said. "Coach Serio was talking to us about we need to win the rebound battle in the second half, and we really focused on it and that's what we came out and did."

The Dukes lost an early lead at the 13-minute mark of the first half, then soon tied the game off a free throw from Agunbiade and regained the lead off a shot by Jocelyn Floyd. The Dukes would not trail again.

McConnell-Serio said the Dukes still need to work on playing hard the entire game.

"I think our biggest thing is coming out and competing for 40 minutes because we've seen us play well in spurts in each and every game, and it's now trying to extend those spurts and play hard and compete for 40 minutes," McConnell-Serio said.

The Dukes play Saturday at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia this Saturday, where the A-10 championship will be held the first weekend of March. They then return home for a rematch against St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m on Feb. 1.