Amanda Gritz | staff writer

Now with a conference championship under their belt, the Dukes look to continue to prove to the nation that Duquesne is a bowling school that’s here to stay.

“What helped us win was not having pressure on us. In the polls, we were ranked 20th, so we fell under the radar,” Fetterhoff said. “We already knew we were a talented team, and this win solidified that we were a strong team in the conference.”

Duquesne’s women’s bowling team took home the NEC Women’s Bowling Championship last weekend for the first time in program history. The three-day tournament was held at Hamilton Lanes & Entertainment Center in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, from Friday to Sunday.

On Friday, the No. 2 seed Dukes faced the No. 3 seed Monmouth in the first round of the championship. The match came down to the wire, as the Dukes won their traditional match 1107-1081. Entering the quint Baker leg, the Dukes held a 1-0 lead with a 38-pin advantage to start.

The Hawks responded with a 228-160 win in the second game, taking a 30-pin lead. They added to their advantage over the next two games, giving them a 65-pin lead. The Dukes were able to pull off a win in game five with a score of 227-160. Anchor bowler Maribeth Baker delivered three consecutive strikes, helping them clinch the 992-990 victory.

“We stayed within ourselves and trusted what we saw. We continued to stay positive and feed off of each other’s energy,” Baker said.

No. 4 seed Mercyhurst faced the Dukes on Saturday for a spot in the championship. Early on, the Dukes trailed by 27 pins after the first two games, but a 225 pinfall in game four allowed them to take an 86-pin lead heading into the final game. The Dukes closed day two by winning the quint Baker leg 1014-929, earning them another matchup with the Lakers.

The Dukes started the final day strong with a 975-926 win against Mercyhurst in the traditional leg. Jazmyn Scott recorded six strikes and a team-best 221 pinfall, while Emma Siekierski recorded five strikes and a 202 pinfall. Knocking down 219 pins in both of the first two games of the quint Baker leg, the Dukes had a 95-pin lead.

The Dukes ended their weekend by securing a third straight shutout and the champion title with a 1031-907 win in the quint Baker leg.

“It was the biggest goal we have accomplished as a program. It felt like one goal that was eluding us, and we had a lot of doubt,” Siekierski said.

Duquesne Head Coach Jody Fetterhoff emphasized the importance of this title for the program.

“I started with this program 10 years ago, and for us to finally win means so much to my team,” Fetterhoff said. “It was great to see all of the girls’ reactions.”

Duquesne will be the NEC’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship. The Dukes will face Nebraska on April 3 at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes in the NCAA Regional Championship.

Amanda Gritz can be reached at gritza@duq.edu