PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the Duquesne women’s basketball team to a 67-55 victory over Loyola Chicago in an Atlantic 10 Conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

The Dukes, who entered the game with just seven wins, erupted for 27 points in the second period, turning a tight contest into a commanding lead they would not relinquish. The outburst was fueled by efficient outside shooting and capitalized on a series of Ramblers miscues, creating a deficit that proved too deep for the visitors to escape.

Duquesne improved its record to 8-16 overall, while Loyola Chicago fell to an even 12-12.

The game was a defensive struggle early, with both teams combining for 15 turnovers in a sloppy first quarter that ended with Duquesne holding a 15-9 edge. The complexion of the game changed entirely in the second stanza. The Dukes found their rhythm from beyond the arc, connecting on four three-pointers in the quarter. A key sequence saw Duquesne’s Mackenzie Blackford and Alexis Bordas hit consecutive three-pointers as part of a larger run that stretched the lead.

Loyola Chicago, meanwhile, went cold and struggled to take care of the ball. The Ramblers committed seven turnovers in the quarter, which Duquesne converted into 10 points. By halftime, the Dukes had built a 42-24 advantage, having outscored Loyola Chicago by 12 points in the paint and dominating the glass with a 12-4 rebounding edge in the period.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly that second-quarter explosion. It transformed a competitive, low-scoring affair into a lopsided one, establishing a tempo and a margin that dictated the remainder of the contest. Loyola Chicago’s attempts to mount a comeback in the second half were consistently met with answers from the Dukes, who maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final 20 minutes.

Duquesne’s offense was powered by balance and precision. Alexis Bordas, a guard from Wheeling, West Virginia, led all scorers with 19 points, including three three-pointers. Mackenzie Blackford of Solon, Ohio, added 17 points, also hitting three shots from deep. Gabby Grantham-Medley facilitated the attack, scoring 14 points and dishing out a game-high six assists.

The top star for Duquesne was Reina Green. The junior from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, posted a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go with four assists. Her work on the glass was instrumental in Duquesne’s second-quarter control and she helped anchor the defense that stifled Loyola Chicago’s offensive sets.

Loyola Chicago was led by Alex-Anne Bessette, who scored 14 points and recorded three blocks. Alexus Mobley added 12 points and five rebounds, while Alexa Kinas contributed 11 points and seven boards. The Ramblers won several hustle categories, forcing 24 Duquesne turnovers and compiling 11 steals and 11 offensive rebounds. However, they could not overcome a dismal shooting afternoon, particularly from long range where they made just 2 of 15 attempts. Duquesne, by contrast, shot 10 for 24 from three-point territory and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, making 13 of 14.

The Ramblers also dominated points in the paint, 34-22, and scored 25 points off turnovers, but their own offensive inefficiency, reflected in a 37.3% field goal percentage and a 77.8 offensive rating, prevented any sustained rally.

A crowd of 3,005 watched as Duquesne secured just its second win in its last 10 games. Loyola Chicago saw its two-game winning streak snapped.

Loyola Chicago returns home to host Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. Duquesne hits the road for its next contest, traveling to face Fordham, also on Saturday.