DEPTFORD, NJ - No. 12 Duquesne - in its first competition of the new year - shook off a slow start to finish sixth of 18 teams at the Northeast Classic at Deptford Lanes in Deptford, N.J. over the weekend.

The Dukes, one of 17 ranked teams in the impressive field, placed ahead of three teams who began the tournament with a higher NTCA Top 25 rank.

Junior Kiearra Saldi finished tied for third overall to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Saldi's five-game 235.40 average was the third-highest in program history.

Her 279 vs. Wilmington tied the second-highest single-game score - set by Saldi last year - in program history.

Freshman Morgan Brookover was also outstanding in the traditional round with a 210.0 average which placed her 27th. Three-time All-American Olivia Farwell was 37th with a 206.0 average.

The Dukes, in their first competition since Nov. 21, dropped their first four baker matches on Friday before rallying for a 1033-933 win over No. 10 Stephen F. Austin.

DU rode the momentum from that win to open traditional play with a 1118-995 win over #14 Delaware State, followed by a 1080-1008 victory over #5 Vanderbilt in a match that saw all five Dukes roll a 200 or better.

The Dukes, behind Saldi's 279,  also posted a 1026-912 win over Wilmington in the final match of the day to take a 203.7 average and No. 8 seed into Sunday's championship round.

DU dispatched No. 4 North Carolina A&T, the seventh seed,  4-0 in its first Sunday match and defeated No. 10 SFA, which was seeded fifth, by a 4-3 margin, before falling to sixth seed No. 9 Mount St. Mary's 4-0 in a match that was much tighter than it looked as DU lost the first game 244-245 and the second 202-210.

The Dukes (42-26) will be back in action at NEC Meet #2 on Feb. 5-6 at Clearview Lanes in Mount Joy, Pa.


Friday Baker (1-4)
vs. #8 Youngstown State – L, 958-1045
vs. Lincoln Memorial – L, 1081-1102
vs. #1 Sam Houston – L , 965-1012
vs. #2 McKendree – L, 962-1036
vs. #10 Stephen F Austin – W, 1033-933

Saturday Traditional (3-2)
vs. #14 Delaware State – W, 1118-995
Kiearra Saldi leads DU with a 266, Olivia Farwell rolls a 247 and Shannon Small adds a 235 as the Dukes post their season-high team total

vs. #5 Vanderbilt – W, 1080-1008
All five Dukes roll a 200 or better led by Saldi and Morgan Brookover with a 235 and 234 respectively

vs. #10 Maryville – L, 996-1112
Brookover leads the way with a 224

vs. #20 Wisconsin-Whitewater – L, 964-975
Brookover with a 223 and Saldi adds a 212

vs. Wilmington – W, 1026-912
Saldi with team weekend-best and career high-tying 279

Sunday CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (2-1)
Duquesne seeded #8

First Round
vs. #4 North Carolina A&T, W (4-0) - 7 seed
223-201, 204-201, 182-164, 201-167

Second Round
vs. #10 Stephen F. Austin, W (4-3) - 5 seed
208-184, 191-225, 234-205, 243-223, 204-233, 168-235, 233-194

Position Round
vs. #9 Mount St. Mary's, L (0-4) - 6 seed
244-245, 202-210, 188-289, 178-269