Filippa Goula hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 32 seconds to play to complete a comeback and lift Cleveland State to a 55-52 victory over Duquesne in the round of 16 in the Women’s NIT on Friday night.
Duquesne led 29-18 at halftime and 42-37 at the end of the third quarter.
Duquesne’s Jerni Kaiku tied the score twice in the final three minutes. The Dukes had two chances to tie it on their final possession, but each shot rimmed out.
Duquesne finishes its season 21-13, tying for the sixth-most wins in program history.
“We played a very good basketball team that’s very well coached, that plays differently with their matchup zone,” coach Dan Burt said in a release. “They averaged 77 points a game and from an offensive standpoint, we were able to shut them down. Solving their matchup zone is a very difficult thing, and it took us some time, and I feel like if we would play them on a regular basis, obviously, I think we could have some more success.”
Senior Megan McConnell had 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists to further cement her place in the Duquesne record books. She took over the top spot on the school’s all-time assists list with 660, one more than Shiri Sharon (2001-04). She became the school’s all-time steals leader and second-leading scorer in a win over Miami (Ohio) on Sunday.
Kiaku led the Dukes with 15 points. Mackenzie Blackford added 12.
Mickayla Perdue, Sara Guerreiro and Destiny Leo each scored 12 points for Cleveland State (26-9), which moves on to face Purdue Fort Wayne in the tournament’s final eight.
“I loved this year. I loved this team,” Burt said. “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. I had to kick them off the floor today after an hour shootaround, because they were just enjoying one another. It’s just been a magical year.”