Dukes Win NEC Regular Season Title in 2024

Dukes Suggested NEC Regular Season for 2024 Crown Duquesne earns the top seed at the NEC Championships with a 6-1 result at NEC #3.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – With a 6-1 record at NEC #3 at Yankee Lanes in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Duquesne University bowling team has won the regular season title for the 2024 Northeast Conference. It’s the Dukes’ first-ever outright title and their second straight NEC regular season crown.

Duquesne defeated Saint Francis U., LIU, and No. 18 Merrimack to start the Baker style competition on Saturday, extending their winning streak to a season-high 14 games. The Dukes defeated the Sharks 908-836 after defeating the Red Flash 980-843. Duquesne defeated the Warriors 1,011-957 before No. 19 Sacred Heart defeated the Dukes 1,075-1,026 to halt the Dukes’ winning run.

Duquesne defeated rated opponents in back-to-back games to start play at NEC #3 on Sunday. They overcame No. 21 Fairleigh Dickinson 965-940 and No. 25 Niagara 949-904. In order to conclude play and win the 2024 regular-season championship, the Dukes defeated Wagner 911–863.

After winning 6-1 at NEC #3, Duquesne finished the 2023–24 season with an overall record of 60–26 (.698), including 17–4 (.810) in the NEC. The Dukes have now accomplished 60 wins for the third year in a row and six times in the eight years since they joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2016–17.

With a 16-5 (.762) record at the end of the regular season, the Pioneers were one game behind Sacred Heart in the rankings. With league records of 12-9 (.571), FDU and Merrimack shared third place, while SFU came in fifth place with 11-10 (.524). The 2024 NEC Championships are scheduled to take place at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton, New Jersey, from Friday, March 22, to Sunday, March 24, and the Dukes are the top-seeded team.

Senior Shannon Small, graduate student Kiearra Saldi, freshman Maribeth Baker, sophomore Emma Siekierski, and freshman Ivanna Fraticelli were the starting lineup for Duquesne at NEC #3. Before sophomore Ranelle Ulanday participated in the final two games on Saturday, senior Brenna Gleim filled in for the Dukes against the Red Flash and bowled in the team’s victory over LIU.

For Duquesne, Ulanday started first in each of the three games on Sunday. Siekierski, Baker, Small, and Saldi were next in line. In the Dukes’ wins over the Knights and Seahawks, junior Morgan Brookover also played a part.

At NEC #3, Duquesne had the most total pins—6,745—averaging 192.7 per game, which led the field. Following a 6-1 record at the event this past weekend, the Knights and Pioneers finished with 6,544 and 6,541 total pins, respectively.

At NEC #3, Duquesne had the most total pins—6,745—averaging 192.7 per game, which led the field. Following a 6-1 record at the event this past weekend, the Knights and Pioneers finished with 6,544 and 6,541 total pins, respectively.

The Dukes play their final tournament of the regular season at Triad Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Stallings Invitational. The event takes place on Friday, February 23, and ends on Sunday, February 25.