March 6, 2008

Game Notes

#9 Duquesne (15-14, 6-8) vs. #8 Richmond (13-16, 6-8)
Friday, March 7, 2008 • 12:00 p.m. (EST)
Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse • Philadelphia, Pa.
Live Stats: www.GoDuquesne.com
Streaming Video: www.Atlantic10.org
Audio: www.RedZoneMedia.com
Series: Richmond leads 9-2
Atlantic 10 Championship Series: First Meeting

PHILADELPHIA - After a one year absence, the Duquesne women's basketball team is back for its 23rd appearance in Atlantic 10 Championship. The Dukes, who were picked to finish 13th in the conference in a preseason poll of league coaches and media, are back in the tournament after failing to qualify last season. DU will be taking on Richmond at 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday afternoon.

SEEDS
Temple, George Washington, Xavier and Charlotte are top four teams in the conference and get first round byes. Duquesne, the ninth seed will take on Richmond in the first game on Friday. No. 5 Dayton takes on No. 12 Massachusetts in the second game. St. Bonaventure, the seventh seed, will face 10th seed Rhode Island in the third game and No. 6 Saint Joseph's closes out the first evening of play against No. 11 Saint Louis.

WHAT A WEEK
On Monday, Kristi Little was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week. On Wednesday it was announced that she was named A-10 Third Team All-Conference and All Defensive Team. She also became the first Duke to be named Defensive Player of the Year. Little finished the 2007-08 regular season as the Dukes leader in both scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (6.0 apg) and steals (3.2 spg). She topped her career-high in four times this season by scoring 19 points at Morehead State, 21 points at Clemson and 23 points at Cincinnati and 26 points against Dayton. She finished the 2007-08 regular season as the Atlantic 10's fourth leading scorer as well as being first in steals and second in assists.

WHAT A FINISH
Three weeks ago, Duquesne was 2-8 in conference play and was in danger of not making the postseason tournament. After a win against Massachusetts and a pair of road wins against Richmond and Rhode Island, the Dukes closed out the 2007-08 regular season with their best defensive performance in conference play since 1992 in their 62-35 win over La Salle. DU finished tied for seventh in the A-10 with St. Bonaventure and Richmond in the standings. This was the first time in four seasons that Duquesne won four consecutive regular-season conference games.

HOW WE GOT HERE
Duquesne is the No. 9 seed in the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship. The Dukes finished tied for seventh place in the standings with St. Bonaventure and Richmond with a conference record of 6-8. According to the Atlantic 10 tie-breaking procedures, when more than two teams are tied, the team with the best record against the teams they are tied with gets the higher seed. St. Bonaventure finished 2-1 (two wins over Duquesne and one loss against Richmond). Richmond split their games with the Bonnies and Dukes to finish 1-1. Duquesne was 1-2 against SBU and Richmond. DU returns to the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship failing to qualify last season. This is Duquesne's 23rd appearance in the A-10 Championship and have a record of 15-22.

DUQUESNE IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP:
3/2/84: George Washington - L, 74-54
2/28/85: George Washington -W, 62-57
3/1/85: Saint Joseph's - L, 48-77
3/5/86: George Washington - L, 63 -76
3/2/87: St. Bonaventure -W, 76-59
3/4/87: Rutgers- L, 65-99
3/7/88: Rhode Island - L, 59-67
3/6/89: Rhode Island -W, 66-53
3/8/89: Rutgers- L, 57-92
3/5/90: Rhode Island -W, 63-52
3/7/90: Saint Joseph's - L, 53-84
3/4/91: Rhode Island - L, 57-70
3/11/92: Massachusetts - W, 44-35
3/12/92: West Virginia -W, 63-62
3/13/92: George Washington - L, 64-87
3/5/94: George Washington - L, 78-91
3/9/95: Rutgers- L, 61-63
3/1/96: Temple - L, 59-64
2/25/97: Rhode Island -W, 77-62
2/24/97: Massachusetts - L, 60-75
2/24/98: Temple -W, 76-45
2/26/98: Massachusetts - L, 47-63
2/26/99: St. Bonaventure -W, 66-60
2/27/99: Saint Joseph's - L, 71-54
3/3/00: St. Bonaventure - L, 67-63
3/2/01: St. Bonaventure -W, 57-55
3/3/01: George Washington - L, 61-71
3/1/02: St. Bonaventure -W, 77-75
3/2/02: Temple - L, 50-78
3/6/03: Fordham -W, 60-52
3/7/03: George Washington - L, 58-76
3/5/04: Massachusetts - W, 73-44
3/6/04: Saint Joseph's - L, 63-73
3/4/05: Massachusetts - L, 52-67
3/3/06: Massachusetts -W, 56-51
3/4/06: Charlotte -W, 56-45
3/5/06: #22 Temple - L, 63-74