PITTSBURGH - The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team lost an exhibition game at Division I Duquesne University, 108-53, Thursday night at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
 
While Thursday's game was a final tune-up for Slippery Rock's upcoming season, the contest served as a countable game for Duquesne, which improved its record to 2-0 in the early stages of 2025-26 with the win.
 
Sophia Hook led The Rock with 11 points, three rebounds, one steal and one assist. Hook shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the field overall, including a 2-of-3 mark from 3-point territory.
 
Kayley Joseph-Bernard and Hannah Pugliese contributed eight points each with Joseph-Bernard also compiling four rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists. Mairan Haggerty rounded out SRU's top scorers with seven points.
 
Freshman guard Iyanna Wade dished out a game-best six assists all the while matching Alyssa Gillin for team-high honors in rebounds at five in addition to making one steal. Fellow freshman Jorja Bernesser blocked a pair of shots.
 
Collectively, Slippery Rock closed the exhibition shooting 33.9 percent (20-for-59) from the field overall and 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from 3-point range.
 
The Dukes converted 45.9 percent (39-for-85) of their field goal attempts, including a 12-of-23 (.522) effort from 3-point range as well as hitting 78.3 percent (18-for-23) of their free throws. Duquesne ended the night with a +28 (57-29) rebounding margin in addition to forcing SRU into 29 turnovers. DU scored 39 points off Rock miscues.
 
Slippery Rock converted 4-of-5 3-point attempts in the opening 10 minutes, but 12 first-quarter turnovers – which Duquesne scored 16 points off - and a +6 DU rebounding margin led to a 32-15 Dukes advantage early on.
 
While The Rock cut their turnover total in half in the second quarter, Duquesne went 5-for-6 from 3-point territory in addition to tallying 12 second chance points to take a 66-32 lead into halftime.
 
Duquesne added six points to its lead in the third quarter and 15 more in the fourth for the eventual 108-53 decision.
 
Gabby Grantham-Medley and Mackenzie Blackford scored 17 points apiece to lead the Dukes.
 
Slippery Rock officially starts its 2025-26 season with two games Nov. 15-16 at the Atlantic Region Challenge in Erie, Pennsylvania. As part of the two-day event, SRU plays the University Charleston 4 p.m. Nov. 15 followed by a 2 p.m. Nov. 16 meeting with Davis & Elkins College.





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