NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Duquesne bowling team finished among the Top 12 in its first NCAA Championship appearance at AMF Pro Lanes in North Kansas City, Mo. on April 7-8. The Dukes, in just their fifth season as a program, advanced to the second day of play before being eliminated by fellow Northeast Conference member Sacred Heart, 2-1, on Thursday afternoon.

DU rallied from a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Sacred Heart in Wednesday's opener to defeat Roberts Wesleyan, 2-0 in an elimination match on Wednesday afternoon.

The Dukes and Pioneers met again Thursday morning in another elimination match that came down to the closing frames in game seven of the best-of-7 baker match.

Duquesne got a 242 from freshman Shannon Small - including a string of six-straight strikes to finish - in posting a 1016-983 win in Thursday's traditional match. Jessica Cadez added a 218 and Jessica Sacks posted a season-high 202 to lead the Dukes.

Sacred Heart came back to win the baker match 1060-958, setting the stage for the best-of-7 decider.

DU closed game five with seven consecutive strikes to take a 3-2 lead, only to see SHU rally to tie it with a win in game six.

The Pioneers took game seven by a 226-218 score.

Duquesne will be back in action at the ISC/ITC Sectionals at Dayton, Ohio's Poelking Lanes South on April 16.


NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Region 1 - Wednesday, April 7

VS. SACRED HEART (0-2)
Traditional - 904-967 (L)
Baker - 889-941 (L)

Notes: Kiearra Saldi led the Dukes in the traditional match with a 202 ... the Dukes trailed by just one pin through the first three rounds of baker play ... baker scores: 183-238, 143-162, 209-136, 159-201, 195-204..

VS. ROBERTS WESLEYAN (2-0)
Traditional - 956-926 (W)
Baker - 959-945

Notes: Shannon Small rolled a 223 and Saldi added a 220 to pace the Dukes in the traditional round ... the Dukes, who were down 73 pins through the first two baker games, closed game three with seven consecutive strikes to take a 12 pin lead in going on to win ... baker scores: 163-206, 157-187, 247-162, 210-165, 182-225.


Region 1 - Thursday, April 8

VS. SACRED HEART
Traditional - 1016-983 (W)
Baker - 958-1060 (L)
Best-of-7 - 3-4 (L)

Notes: Small had a 242, including a finishing six-straight strikes ... Jessica Cadez rolled a 218 and Jessica Sacks added a season-best 202 for the Dukes ... Sacred Heart finished the fourth baker game with six-straight strikes to take a 63-pin lead into the final game ... baker scores: 226-237, 199-179, 148-188, 189-221, 196-235 ... the best-of-7 scores: 226-177 (W), 191-214 (L), 233-205 (W), 191-217 (L), 223-189 (W), 199-256 (L), 218-226 (L).