NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Kelsey Hackbart, DUQUESNE
Fr., Right, 5-7, Bristol, PA/Truman

Hackbart carried Duquesne throughout its Northeast Conference debut weekend. Leading the first-year program at its first-ever conference meet, the rookie right-hander averaged 20.04 pins per frame during the two-day event. Hackbart topped all first-year NEC players in both traditional game average (198.14) and overall frame average (20.04) with the former mark ranking her fifth overall on the individual conference leader board. For the weekend, she threw a team-high 58 strikes in 110 attempts (.527) and posted an .844 filled frames percentage. The Keystone State product started out slow on Saturday, but soon kicked it into high gear. After averaging 154.0 for her first two games, Hackbart never again dipped below the 187-pin mark and eventually set the NEC weekend game high. Heating up during Saturday's third match, she knocked down a team-high 193 pins in a setback to NEC preseason favorite Fairleigh Dickinson. Hackbart exploded for a 243 game against Sacred Heart before her 268-pin performance powered the Dukes to a 973-878 victory over Caldwell. She stayed hot even though the format shifted to baker play. Hackbart averaged 20.43 pins per frame during Sunday's baker rounds, which included a 940-867 triumph over St. Francis Brooklyn.