Duquesne put together one of its top performances in the young program's history, finishing third in a loaded 18-team field at the Hawk Classic Invitational at Millsboro Lanes in Millsboro, Del. over the weekend.

The 20th-ranked Dukes went 8-5 with wins over seven ranked programs over the weekend. The Hawk Classic field featured 15 teams - including six in the Top 10 - in the NTCA preseason Top 25.

DU posted the fourth-highest team pin total (4,960/992 average) in going 3-2 in Friday's baker matches. The Dukes opened hot, topping the 1000-pin mark in back-to-back wins over No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore (1028-926) and No. 11 Sacred Heart (1074-996). DU posted a third win over No. 16 Saint Francis U (952-849) before falling to No. 5 Sam Houston State in another high-scoring match, 1067-1029.

On Saturday, Duquesne opened traditional round play with back-to-back wins over No. 25 Monmouth and and St. Francis Brooklyn before falling to No. 15, Delaware State, No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 6 Arkansas State. The Dukes, who were the only team to place five bowlers among the top 50 in the individual standings, took a 5-5 record into Sunday's Championship round.

Freshman Crystal Elliott placed 25th with a 201.00 average. She was joined in the Top 50 by Allison Hresko (31st, 196.40), freshman Kiearra Saldi (38th, 191.60), Olivia Farwell (44th, 186.80) and Jessica Cadez (47th, 184.40).

The Dukes, who were seeded sixth, defeated fifth seed No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore (4-2), fourth seed No. 1 Vanderbilt (4-1) and third seed No. 11 Sacred Heart (4-3) in succession to finish third overall.


HAWK CLASSIC BAKER (3-2)
Friday, Nov. 22

Match 1
#20 Duquesne 1028, #7 Maryland Eastern Shore 926 (W)

Match 2
#20 Duquesne 1074, #11 Sacred Heart 996 (W)

Match 3
#13 Lincoln Memorial 932, #20 Duquesne 877 (L)

Match 4
#20 Duquesne 952, #16 Saint Francis U 849 (W)

Match 5
#5 Sam Houston State 1067, #20 Duquesne 1029 (L)

HAWK CLASSIC TRADITIONAL (2-3)
Saturday, Nov. 23

Match 6
#20 Duquesne 941, #25 Monmouth 906 (W)
Jessica Cadez leads DU with a 216. All five Dukes roll better than 177.

Match 7
#20 Duquesne 950, St. Francis Brooklyn 896 (W)
Allison Hresko rolls her weekend-best 214. Kiearra Saldi adds a 200.

Match 8
#15 Delaware State 1033, #20 Duquesne 971  (L)
Saldi with her weekend best 237 is supported by Crystal Elliott at 210 and Hresko at 202.

Match 9
#1 Vanderbilt 1009, #20 Duquesne 923 (L)
Elliott and Hresko roll a pair of 211's.

Match 10
#6 Arkansas State 1057, #20 Duquesne 1016 (L)
Elliott rolls a Duquesne weekend-best 257 in close defeat.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (3-0)
Sunday, Nov. 24

First Round
No. 6 seed #20 Duquesne 4, No. 5 seed #7 Maryland Eastern Shore 2 (W)

Second Round
#20 Duquesne 4, No. 4 seed #1 Vanderbilt 1 (W)

Position Round
#20 Duquesne 4, No. 3 seed #11 Sacred Heart 3 (W)