HAMILTON, N.J. – No. 10 Duquesne (65-23) went 13-0 against a 12-team field that included seven ranked teams in dominating the Hawk Flight Invite over the weekend.

It was DU's sixth first place finish in tournament play this season.

The Dukes averaged 223.5 with a 22.4 frame average in their 11 baker and traditional matches. The 223.5 average was 12.5 pins per game better than second place Sam Houston State, which entered the tournament ranked No. 2 nationally.

Individually, Olivia Farwell and Jessica Cadez placed first and second overall with 242.5 and 240 averages respectively. They were joined on the All-Tournament Team by freshman Kiearra Saldi who posted a 222.8 average to place fifth.

Allison Hresko was 15th with a 208.7. Sarah Kirkpatrick averaged 202.5 in four games and Megan Cook posted a 208.5 in two games bowled.

Duquesne opened the tournament by defeating four ranked teams in going 5-0 in Friday's baker matches. DU defeated No. 2 Sam Houston 1042-1040 in the opener and followed that with a school record 1331-974 win over Felician in match two (279, 217, 289, 279, 267). The previous program baker high was 1111 set earlier this year at the Bud Whitman Memorial. The 1331 total is believed to be one of the highest ever posted at the collegiate level in a five-game baker set.

The red hot Dukes finished with a 1095-853 win over #22 Monmouth, a 1075-1021 win over #25 LIU and a 1041-922 win over #24 Wilmington.

The Dukes topped the 1000 pin mark in all six traditional matches with a new program high of 1165 in an opening 1165-972 win over St. Francis Brooklyn. DU followed that with a 1135-1043 victory over #4 Vanderbilt. DU also defeated #17 Fairleigh Dickinson, 1083-1058 in their final traditional match.

In the bracket round, the Dukes dispatched FDU 4-1 (214-194, 201-189, 186-243, 209-205, 173-162) before taking down Sam Houston 4-3 (214-238, 296-223, 176-236, 208-193, 170-232, 238-235, 245-237). In addition to posting a 296 in game two, the Dukes had a three-pin win to tie it at 3-3 before closing it out with a 245-237 victory.

DU returns to action at the ISC & ITC Sectionals beginning on March 13.


HAWK FLIGHT INVITE BAKER (5-0)
Match 1
#10 Duquesne 1042, #2 Sam Houston State 1040 (W)

Match 2
#10 Duquesne 1331, Felician 974 (W)

Match 3
#10 Duquesne 1095, #22 Monmouth 853 (W)

Match 4
#10 Duquesne 1075, #25 LIU 1021 (W)

Match 5
#10 Duquesne 1041, #24 Wilmington 922 (W)


HAWK FLIGHT TRADITIONAL (6-0)
Match 1
#10 Duquesne 1165, St. Francis Brooklyn 972 (W)
Sarah Kirkpatrick paces DU with a career-best 266. Kiearra Saldi rolls a 254, her high game for the weekend, and Olivia Farwell adds a 234.

Match 2
#10 Duquesne 1135, #4 Vanderbilt 1043 (W)
Farwell posts a 255 and Allison Hresko posts her weekend best 252. Saldi adds a 242

Match 3
#10 Duquesne 1075, Mercyhurst 964 (W)
Farwell leads the way with a 259. Kirkpatrick adds a 233.

Match 4
#10 Duquesne 1122, New Jersey City 902 (W)
Cadez with a career-best 278 and Farwell posts a second-straight 259. Saldi adds a 233.

Match 5
#10 Duquesne 1131, Caldwell 861 (W)
Cadez follows with a 267 and Megan Cook contributes a career-high 258.

Match 6
#10 Duquesne 1083, #17 Fairleigh Dickinson 1058 (W)
Cadez adds a 254, Saldi a 233 and Farwell a 225.


HAWK FLIGHT BRACKET ROUND (2-0)
Match 1
#10 (1 seed) Duquesne 4, #17 (#4 seed) Fairleigh Dickinson 1 (W)

Match 2
#10 (1 seed) Duquesne 4, #2 (2 seed) Sam Houston State 3 (W)