Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University bowling team advanced to the championship match of the 2025 Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Saturday, earning a pair of mega match victories in elimination play. The Dukes posted a 2-1 victory over Monmouth at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton, N.J., before defeating Mercyhurst, 2-0.
 
THE DISTANCE TO HERE
Duquesne, the No. 2 seed in the 2025 NEC Championship, opened play Friday with a 2-1 loss to No. 3 seed Mercyhurst. The Dukes opened the mega match against the Lakers with a three-pin victory in traditional play, posting a 1,010-1,007 victory. A five-game Baker followed, with Mercyhurst earning a 972-897 victory. The Dukes fell behind by 38 pins after the first game and trailed by 48 pins heading into game four before exploding for a 203-153 triumph. The win gave Duquesne a two-pin cushion, but the Lakers forced the best of seven Baker with a 246-169 victory in game five.
 
BEST OF SEVEN
In the best of seven Baker Friday against Mercyhurst, the Lakers earned a 184-156 win in game one, while the two programs tied in game two, 187-187. Duquesne was able to tie it, 1.5-1.5, thanks to 202-125 win in game three before MU defeated the Dukes by five pins, 189-184, in game four. Duquesne again knotted the series with a 202-168 win, but the Lakers secured the match victory with a pair of three-pin wins. In game six, Mercyhurst edged Duquesne, 204-201, and followed with a 176-173 triumph in game seven.
 
THE RALLY
Moving to the elimination match Saturday morning, the Dukes again went three games. Duquesne opened with a 973-967 win in traditional action before Monmouth was able to force the best of seven Baker with a 1,093-983 victory in the Quint Baker. The Hawks grabbed a 56-pin lead after game one and steadily increased their advantage despite a 199-182 win for the Dukes in game four. Duquesne rallied in the best of seven, grabbing the first game, 203-190, before opening up a 3-1 edge after a 17-pin victory in game three, 194-177, and a six-pin triumph in game four, 205-199. Despite Monmouth closing the series to 3-2 after a 190-176 win, the Dukes advanced with a 210-202 victory in game six, clinching the best of seven and the mega match, 2-1.
 
NICE TO KNOW YOU
The win over the Hawks set up a rematch with the Lakers in yet another elimination match Saturday afternoon, as Mercyhurst fell to No. 1 seed FDU, 2-0. Duquesne wasted no time jumping in front, posting a 937-903 victory in traditional play to open up a 1-0 lead. This time, however, Mercyhurst was unable to respond. Despite a 59-pin deficit in the Quint Baker after game one, 212-153, the Dukes surged with four consecutive wins to tally a 1,030-963 victory, a 2-0 mega match triumph and a spot in the championship. The big swing came in game two, with Duquesne turning the 59-pin hole into a 69-pin lead with a 266-138 victory.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne carries an overall record of 58-46 (.558) into Sunday's mega match against No. 16 FDU, which is the No. 1 seed in the 2025 NEC Championship and is a perfect 2-0. The Dukes and Knights split four meetings during the year, with Duquesne knocking off FDU twice at NEC #1 before the Knights repaid the favor at NEC #2. As even of an all-time series in program history, Duquesne and FDU have squared off 36 times, with each team owning 18 victories. The Dukes are also making their first appearance in the championship mega match and will need to secure a pair of wins over the Knights to garner their first NEC Championship crown.
 
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