Pittsburgh, Pa. – Junior
Maribeth Baker of the Duquesne University bowling team was named to the 2026 International Bowling Media Association (IBMA) All-America First Team, presented by Storm Bowling, Wednesday. The honor was announced at the annual "Night of Champions" Banquet held in conjunction with the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships in Green Bay, Wisc.
For Baker, it marks her second All-America nod of the 2025-26 campaign, as she also earned a spot on the
2025-26 National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-America Second Team. Baker, who was named a finalist for the IBMA Collegiate Bowler of the Year, led NCAA Division I in traditional average this season according to the United States Bowling Congress. In seven events, she averaged 212.0 per game, claiming four finishes in the top five of a competition.
The best performance of the regular season for Baker
came at the Mount Shootout in February, when she averaged 242.80 in five traditional games, knocking down a total of 1,214 pins. That average ranks second in school history, helped her win MVP honors and also marked her second career individual crown. Baker, a native of York, Pa., also won the individual title at the Hawk Classic Nov. 18, 2023, as a freshman after collecting 1,398 pins in six games, an average of 233.
Named to both the 2026 All-NEC First Team as well as the 2026 All-NEC Tournament Team, Baker helped guide the
Dukes to their first NEC Championship title, posting 2-0 victories over Monmouth, Mercyhurst and the Lakers again en route to the program's first automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. In the Pittsburgh Regional of the NCAA Championship, the Dukes fell to No. 4 Nebraska before earning a victory over Belmont Abbey in an elimination match. Duquesne's run in the NCAA Championship came to an end after the Dukes dropped another decision to the Cornhuskers.
Overall during the 2025-26 season, Baker has posted an average frame of 20.73 as well as an average of 9.10 on her first ball. She has also collected an overall fill percentage of 84.3 as well as a strike percentage of 54.8 percent (709-of-1,293).
Baker's honor marks the second consecutive year a member of the Dukes earned IBMA All-America distinction. Last season,
Shannon Small (2020-25) was named to the 2025 IBMA All-America Second Team.
Under the tutelage of head coach
Jody Fetterhoff, Duquesne has amassed an overall record of 63-45 (.583) in 2025-26, earning a share of the 2026 NEC regular-season championship courtesy of a 17-7 (.708) ledger in conference play. The Dukes will conclude the postseason this weekend by competing at the ITC Championships, which will be held in Green Bay, Wisc., at Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.
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