Pittsburgh, Pa. – Thanks to a 3-0 record Sunday in bracket play, the Duquesne University bowling team claimed the team title at its first home invitational in program history, winning the Duquesne Invitational on Senior Day at Pines Plaza Lanes. Over the course of the competition, the Dukes posted a record of 8-4, evening their overall record during the 2026-27 season at 23-23 (.500).
 
SEALING THE DEAL
Duquesne opened bracket play Sunday in third place with a record of 5-4, setting up a best-of-seven with Adelphi. The Dukes opened with a 233-216 victory in game one before the Panthers grabbed game two by five pins, 186-181. The back-and-forth continued, with Duquesne earning a 206-176 triumph in game three and Adelphi posting a 208-177 victory in game four. The Dukes were able to seal the win by rolling a 202 in both games five and six, winning by 10 pins in game five and 42 pins in the clincher. The win set up a contest with fellow Northeast Conference (NEC) foe Mercyhurst, which fell in six games to No. 25 Maryland Eastern Shore, which was the No. 1 seed heading into bracket play Sunday. Duquesne earned a 4-0 sweep of the Lakers, firing an average 223.0 per game, including a 253, the highest score on the final day of the tournament, to complete the sweep.
 
ALL THE MARBLES
The win over Mercyhurst pushed Duquesne to the championship match against the Hawks, who received a bye to the title game after their win over the Lakers. The first game was decided by just one pin, 178-177, with UMES earning the win, before the Dukes grabbed a two-pin victory in game, 215-213. Game three saw Duquesne unleash a 246-171 triumph, followed by a 183-171 win in game five. The Hawks would force a sixth game by taking game five, 195-174, but the Dukes sealed the team championship its first home tournament in program history with a 197-194 victory in deciding Baker game. The victory came on Senior Day, as Duquesne honored senior Ivanna Fraticelli prior to the final day of action at Pines Plaza Lanes.
 
TRADITIONAL
Duquesne finished 2-3 during traditional play Saturday on the second day of the invitational, earning wins over Howard (916-813) and Mercyhurst (940-871) but falling to Daemen by nine pins, 844-835, UMES by seven pins, 899-892, and Coppin State by 10 pins, 951-941. Leading the charge individually for the Dukes in traditional play were a pair of rookies, with freshman Jacey Thibodeau finishing seventh with 934 total pins in five games, an average of 186.80, and freshman Addison Then closing ninth with 919 total pins (183.60). Gabriela Becerra Diaz of UMES earned the individual crown by two pins over Marissa Funk of Adelphi, knocking down 988 pins, an average of 197.60. The best game for Thibodeau in traditional play came against Coppin State with a 212, while Then fired a 215 against the Hawks.
 
BAKER ROLLS
Duquesne opened its first home tournament Friday in Baker action, posting a record of 3-1. The Dukes earned three straight wins to open play, downing the Hawks, 937-917, while also earning victories over both Mercyhurst (874-842) and Coppin State (1,021-876). Adelphi gave Duquesne its first loss of the invitational with a 910-896 win over the Dukes, while the final game of the day was a bye as Duquesne rolled a 957. The lineup for the Dukes in Baker play featured sophomores Jazmyn Scott and Taylor Miller, Fraticelli, Then and Thibodeau. Freshmen Rayanna Gonazalez and Jamie White each also saw action for Duquesne Sunday in the best-of-seven Baker matches that led to the team title for the Dukes.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne concludes the fall portion of its schedule next weekend by traveling to Mount Joy, Pa., to take part in NEC #1 at Clearview Lanes. Play begins Friday, Nov. 13, and concludes Sunday, Nov. 15.
 
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