Pittsburgh, Pa. – Erasing a 65-pin deficit in game five of Baker play at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton, N.J., the Duquesne University bowling team advanced to the winner's bracket with a 2-0 victory over #23 Monmouth Friday in the 2026 Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship. The Dukes improved to 60-43 (.583) overall during the 2025-26 season thanks to the win.
ROLL OUT
Opening with traditional play Friday against the Hawks in the mega match format, Duquesne earned an 1,107-1,081 triumph in traditional action, winning by 26 pins, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The Dukes carried that momentum into Baker play, grabbing a 230-192 victory in game one and a 38-pin advantage. The Hawks rebounded, winning games two through four and turning the deficit into a 65-pin cushion heading into game five. Monmouth won game two, 228-160, followed with a 240-214 victory in game three and a 170-161 triumph in game four. The Dukes responded, firing a 227 in game five while the Hawks closed at 160 to win by two pins in Baker format, 992-990.
DID YOU KNOW?
Duquesne earned a victory in its first match of an NEC Championship for the first time since 2023 and just the second time overall in program history thanks to its win over Monmouth Friday. In 2023, the Dukes opened with a victory over Merrimack, and in 2017 Duquesne defeated Sacred Heart. The Dukes will look for their second straight appearance in the final of the NEC Championship, as Duquesne rebounded after opening the competition with a loss last year to win two consecutive matches and advance to the final.
UP NEXT
Duquesne will take on No. 4 seed Mercyhurst Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the winner's bracket, while Monmouth face No. 1 seed Niagara in the elimination match, which also has a 9:00 a.m. start. The winner of the elimination match will advance to take on the loser of the match between the Dukes and Lakers to set up the championship match, which is slated for Sunday, March 22, at 9:00 a.m.
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