PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Alexis Bordas scored 27 points to lead Duquesne to a 72-61 victory over VCU in a women’s basketball game Saturday at A.J. Palumbo Center. The Dukes improved to 10-17 overall, while the Rams fell to 8-20. Bordas, a guard from Wheeling, West Virginia, added four rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes. Reina Green supported her with 13 points and nine rebounds for Duquesne. Cyriah Griffin led VCU with 14 points. Katarina Knezevic added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Rams, who led in paint scoring but were outscored off turnovers. Duquesne avenged a January loss to VCU and won its third game in the last four outings.

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Alexis Bordas scored a game-high 27 points, including five 3-pointers, and Duquesne used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from VCU for a 72-61 victory in Atlantic 10 Conference women’s basketball on Saturday at A.J. Palumbo Center. The Dukes, who avenged a seven-point loss to the Rams last month, improved to 10-17 overall. VCU dropped its fourth consecutive game, falling to 8-20. The contest was a back-and-forth affair for the first 20 minutes, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties. VCU’s Katarina Knezevic, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, was active early, scoring six quick points as the Rams built a small lead. Duquesne responded behind Bordas, the sophomore guard from Wheeling, West Virginia, who hit two first-quarter 3-pointers to keep the Dukes close. The Rams led 16-14 after one quarter and maintained a narrow 35-32 edge at halftime behind efficient outside shooting, connecting on 5 of 10 from beyond the arc in the first half. The turning point came in the third quarter, as Duquesne’s defense stiffened and its offense found a consistent rhythm. The Dukes opened the period on a 15-2 run, flipping a three-point deficit into a 47-37 lead they would not relinquish. The run was fueled by defensive pressure that forced six VCU turnovers in the quarter, which the Dukes converted into 10 points. Bordas was instrumental, scoring seven points during the stretch, while Mackenzie Blackford and Reina Green provided key baskets. VCU, meanwhile, went cold, missing 10 of its first 11 shots from the field in the quarter and committing a critical 10-second backcourt violation. Duquesne’s lead ballooned to as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter. Every time VCU threatened to cut the deficit to single digits, the Dukes had an answer, often from Bordas. Her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 5:32 remaining pushed the lead back to 64-53 and effectively sealed the outcome. VCU guard Cyriah Griffin, who led the Rams with 14 points, hit a trio of 3-pointers in the second half to keep her team within striking distance, but the Rams could not sustain a final rally. Beyond Bordas’ standout performance, Duquesne received balanced contributions. Reina Green of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, posted a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Mackenzie Blackford of Solon, Ohio, added 10 points, five assists and four rebounds, orchestrating the offense and hitting a crucial third-quarter three. Gabby Grantham-Medley chipped in eight points, including two late 3-pointers. For VCU, Knezevic’s near-double-double and Griffin’s scoring were highlights, but the team was hampered by 20 turnovers, which led to 18 Duquesne points. The Rams also struggled at the free-throw line, making just 7 of 12 attempts. Lucy Ghaifan added eight points off the bench for VCU. Statistically, the game was closer than the final score indicated. Both teams shot similarly from the field, with Duquesne at 41.3% and VCU at 41.1%. The Dukes held a slight edge from the 3-point line, making 11 of 26 compared to VCU’s 8 of 19. The critical differences came in ball security, as Duquesne committed four fewer turnovers, and free-throw shooting, where the Dukes were a more efficient 9 of 11. The win gives Duquesne momentum heading into its final week of the regular season, with road games at Saint Louis and George Mason. VCU will look to snap its skid when it hosts La Salle before traveling to Dayton.

Preview: VCU Rams at Duquesne Dukes PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Two Atlantic 10 women’s basketball teams seeking to halt losing streaks will meet Saturday when the Duquesne Dukes host the VCU Rams at A.J. Palumbo Center. Both teams enter the matchup on the heels of Wednesday losses. VCU (8-19, 4-10 A-10) fell 66-39 to Davidson, while Duquesne (9-17, 5-9) dropped a 61-46 decision at Saint Joseph’s. The Rams have lost five straight, and the Dukes have lost three of their last four. The season series is tied 1-1, with VCU winning the most recent meeting 61-54 in Richmond on Jan. 11. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s consistent performers. VCU will rely on guard Katarina Knezevic, who is coming off a 10-point effort against Davidson. She has been a bright spot during the skid, averaging 12.3 points and 7.7 rebounds over her last seven games, including an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double against Saint Bonaventure on Feb. 14. Duquesne counters with guard Mackenzie Blackford, who leads the team in scoring. She poured in 23 points in a win at Fordham on Feb. 14 and followed with 17 in a victory over Loyola Chicago. She logged 40 minutes and scored 16 in the midweek loss to Saint Joseph’s. The game pits two struggling offenses. VCU has failed to reach 55 points in four of its last five games. Duquesne’s scoring has been inconsistent, but the Dukes have shown flashes, scoring 80 points in their win at Fordham. For VCU, finding supplementary scoring behind Knezevic is critical. Cyriah Griffin led the team with nine points in the loss to Davidson. Duquesne will look for support for Blackford from Raevin Washington, who added 10 points off the bench last game. With the Atlantic 10 Championship tournament approaching, both teams are looking to build momentum in the final weeks of the regular season. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Pittsburgh.