Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University bowling team concluded the fall portion of its 2023-24 campaign Sunday, claiming its first team championship of the season with a perfect 7-0 record at Trindle Bowl in Mechanicsburg, Pa., as part of NEC #2. The Dukes won all seven games of Baker play over the course of two days, including three against ranked opponents, in improving to 36-17 (.679) overall, including 11-3 (.786) in Northeast Conference action.
The team title at NEC #2 helps Duquesne bookend 2023 with team championships, as the Dukes won the Red Flash Invitational in January of 2023 in their last victory.
In the first day of action Saturday, Duquesne posted a 4-0 record, including three wins against ranked foes. In the opener, behind a 246 in game four, the Dukes earned a 950-895 win over No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson. The lineup consisted of
Ranelle Ulanday,
Morgan Brookover,
Shannon Small,
Maribeth Baker and
Kiearra Saldi, with
Ivanna Fraticelli subbing in for Duquesne in game four.
Bolstered by the win over the Knights, the Dukes surged to a 926-791 win over Wagner, opening the match by rolling a 221 in game one as Fraticelli played in the second spot of the lineup. Duquesne also earned 969-837 win over No. 17 Sacred Heart as well as an 866-838 triumph over No. 24 Merrimack to conclude the first day of action.
Sunday the Dukes opened with a 999-863 win over Niagara before collecting their highest pin total of the weekend in a 1,002-739 victory over LIU. Finishing off the team title came courtesy of a 983-817 triumph over in-state rival Saint Francis U.
Against the Purple Eagles, Duquesne opened with scores of 222, 204 and 202 en route to the win as the lineup featured Ulanday,
Brenna Gleim, Baker, Small and Saldi.
Emma Siekierski saw action in game three against the Sharks, helping the Dukes roll a 207. She stayed on against the Red Flash in the first spot of the lineup as Duquesne rolled a 230 in game two and a 210 in game three.
In going 7-0, the Dukes posted a pin total of 6,695, easily outdistancing FDU, which finished with 6,377 as one of three teams (Sacred Heart, SFU) in going 4-3 during the meet. Over the course of the tournament, Duquesne recorded an average score of 191.3.
The Dukes return to action after the holidays, opening 2024 by traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., to take part in the Stormin Blue & White Vegas Classic at South Point. Action begins Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, and concludes Wednesday, Jan. 10.
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