HAMILTON, NJ - Eleventh-ranked Duquesne went 1-2 in finishing third at the NEC Championship over the weekend.

The second-seeded Dukes defeated No. 3 seed Merrimack on Friday and fell to No. 4 seed Sacred Heart and No. 1 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.

Duquesne, which was ranked 9th in the Mar. 23 NCAA RPI, will now await its fate for the 2023 NCAA Championship.

The 2023 field will be announced on NCAA.com on March 29 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Duquesne, behind a career-best 245 from Morgan Brookover, took Friday's traditional round over Merrimack 1,091-993. Ranelle Ulanday added a 245 and Brenna Gleim had a 218 for DU.

Duquesne led by two pins after the first two baker games, before Merrimack created separation with a 245-214 win in game three. The Dukes were unable to close the gap in falling 1110-1076.

DU wasted no time in taking the first two games of the best-of-7. Merrimack took game three before Duquesne bounced back to take game four. The Dukes opened game five with five-straight strikes and looked to be in control, only to see the Warriors post seven-straight strikes to take the game 252-245. Duquesne came back to put Merrimack away 247-216 in game six.

The Dukes moved on to face SHU in the winner's bracket on Saturday morning.

The Pioneers took the traditional round 988-908. Kiearra Saldi paced the Dukes with a 226.

Sacred Heart took game two of the baker round 235-183 to build a 45-pin lead that the Dukes could not overcome, as they fell 984-940.

Duquesne moved on to face top-seeded FDU in Saturday afternoon's elimination round.

The Knights left four open frames in the 10th, but DU was unable to capitalize, falling 932-931 in the traditional round. All five DU bowlers rolled between 180 and 195 in the tightly-contested match.

The baker round also went down to the wire with FDU taking a four-pin decision, 976-972. The Dukes rallied from a 35-pin deficit after game two, to take a 20-pin lead into game five, before falling 214-190.

Duquesne University and SportsPITTSBURGH will host one of four NCAA Regional rounds at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes April 7-8 (competition could start on the 6th if Pittsburgh has a five-team field).

The 2023 NCAA Championship is scheduled for April 14-15 at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev.  


FRIDAY

vs. No. 3 seed Merrimack (2-1)

Traditional
DUQ 1091, MC 993
Ulanday 245, Gleim 218, Brookover 265 (career high), Small 195, Saldi 168

Baker
MC 1110, DUQ 1076
178-173, 161-163, 214-245, 265-260, 258-269

Best-of-7
DUQ 4, MC 2
227-203 (W), 236-207 (W), 166-237 (L), 198-184 (W), 245-252 (L), 247-216 (W)


SATURDAY

vs. No. 4 seed Sacred Heart - winners bracket (0-2)

Traditional
SHU 988, DUQ 908
Ulanday 167, Gleim 193, Brookover/Siekierski 121, Saldi 226, Small 201

Baker
SHU 984, DUQ 940
206-199, 183-235, 205-196, 181-191, 165-163

vs. No. 1 seed Fairleigh Dickinson - elimination bracket (0-2)

Traditional
FDU 932, DUQ 931
Ulanday 180, Gleim 186, Brookover 181, Saldi 195, Small 189

Baker
FDU 976, DUQ 972
157-162, 181-211, 224-213, 220-176, 190-214