Preview: Pittsburgh Panthers at Duquesne Dukes PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — City bragging rights and momentum heading into conference play will be on the line Sunday when the Pittsburgh Panthers visit the Duquesne Dukes in a women’s nonconference basketball matchup at A.J. Palumbo Center. Both teams enter the local showdown with similar records. Pittsburgh is 7-6 overall, while Duquesne sits at 6-5. The Panthers are coming off a dominant 98-46 victory over Saint Francis (PA) on Thursday, a game in which they shot 54% from the field. The Dukes, meanwhile, seek to rebound from a 52-39 road loss at Stony Brook on Dec. 14, a contest where they struggled offensively, shooting just 23.6%. A key player to watch for Pittsburgh is forward Fatima Diakhate. She is coming off a strong all-around performance against Saint Francis, contributing 13 points, five blocks and an assist in 29 minutes. Over her last five games, Diakhate has shown versatility, including a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double against Chicago State on Nov. 29. Duquesne will counter with forward Harriet Ford, who leads the team in rebounding. Ford posted a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds in a road overtime win at Navy on Nov. 30 and scored 13 points in a victory over Kent State. Her presence on the boards will be critical against a Panthers team that outrebounded its last opponent by 25. Historically, Pittsburgh has controlled this series, winning the last 15 meetings. The Panthers won last season’s game 72-54 at home on Dec. 21, 2024. For Pittsburgh, this game serves as a final tune-up before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play at Notre Dame on Dec. 29. Duquesne will conclude its nonconference slate before beginning Atlantic 10 competition against Saint Louis on Dec. 31. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST Sunday. The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak in the series, while the Dukes aim to defend their home court and gain a signature win before the conference grind begins.