Pittsburgh, Pa. – Thanks to a 6-1 record at NEC #3 in Manchester, N.H., at Yankee Lanes, the Duquesne University bowling team has claimed the 2024 Northeast Conference regular-season championship. It marks the second consecutive NEC regular-season crown for the Dukes as well as their first outright title.
Duquesne stretched its winning streak to a season-high 14 matches Saturday, opening the Baker style competition with victories over Saint Francis U, LIU and No. 18 Merrimack. Against the Red Flash the Dukes earned a 980-843 win before knocking off the Sharks, 908-836. Against the Warriors, Duquesne posted a 1,011-957 triumph before No. 19 Sacred Heart earned a 1,075-1,026 win, ending the winning streak for the Dukes.
In concluding action at NEC #3 Sunday, Duquesne opened with consecutive wins over ranked opponents, posting a 949-904 victory over No. 25 Niagara and a 965-940 triumph over No. 21 Fairleigh Dickinson. The Dukes finished play and secured the 2024 regular-season championship with a 911-863 win over Wagner.
The 6-1 mark at NEC #3 improved Duquesne to 60-26 (.698) overall during the 2023-24 season, including 17-4 (.810) in the NEC. The Dukes have reached the 60-win plateau for the third consecutive year as well as six times in eight years since beginning as an NCAA Division I program in 2016-17.
The Dukes finished a game ahead of Sacred Heart in the standings for the regular season, as the Pioneers concluded with a 16-5 (.762) record. FDU and Merrimack tied for third with 12-9 (.571) league marks, while SFU finished fifth at 11-10 (.524). The Dukes own the No. 1 seed for the 2024 NEC Championships, which are set for Friday, March 22, to Sunday, March 24, in Hamilton, N.J., at Hamilton Lanes.
The lineup to begin action at NEC #3 for Duquesne included sophomore
Emma Siekierski, freshman
Ivanna Fraticelli, freshman
Maribeth Baker, senior
Shannon Small and grad student
Kiearra Saldi. Senior
Brenna Gleim subbed in for the Dukes against the Red Flash and also bowled in the win over LIU before junior
Ranelle Ulanday competed in the final two matches Saturday.
Ulanday slotted first in the lineup each of the three matches Sunday for Duquesne, followed by Siekierski, Baker, Small and Saldi. Junior
Morgan Brookover also saw action for the Dukes in the second spot in victories over the Knights and Seahawks.
Duquesne led the field in total pins at NEC #3, averaging 192.7 per game with 6,745 total pins. The Knights and Pioneers, who each finished a 6-1 record during this weekend's event, posted 6,544 and 6,541 total pins, respectively.
The Dukes wrap up tournament competition for the regular season with the Stallings Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., at Triad Lanes. The even begins Friday, Feb. 23, and concludes Sunday, Feb. 25.
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