Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University bowling team closed play in the 2024 Penguin Classic Sunday at Holiday Bowl in Struthers, Ohio, finishing sixth out of 16 teams. In championship bracket play, the Dukes fell to No. 3 Youngstown State, 4-1, before suffering a 4-0 setback to No. 2 Arkansas State. In the final match of the event for the Dukes for fifth place, Duquesne dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 21 McKendree. Through the first competition of the 2024-25 season, the Dukes own an overall record of 7-6 (.538).
THE RESULTS
Taking on the Penguins for the second time during the tournament, the Dukes dropped a 246-179 decision in game one before falling, 209-202, in game two. Duquesne rebounded for a 207-187 victory in game three before YSU claimed games four and five. The Dukes followed by getting swept by the Red Wolves, who opened the championship bracket with a 4-0 sweep of Valparaiso. Taking on the Bearcats for fifth place, Duquesne fell by just eight pins in game one, 216-208, before dropping game two, 245-191. Rallying in game three to earn a 228-217 win, the Dukes couldn't capitalize on the momentum, dropping games four and five by the scores of 215-185 and 204-197, respectively.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Both sophomore
Maribeth Baker and fifth-year
Shannon Small each earned spots on the 2024 Penguin Classic All-Tournament Team thanks to
their performances in traditional play Saturday. Baker finished second, while Small claimed sixth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wichita State, which finished 10-3 and earned second place, falling to champion Nebraska, posted the highest total pinfall during the weekend, registering 13,795 total pins. Duquesne finished fifth in the category, accumulating 12,790 over the course of 64 games, an average game of 199.8. Only Nebraska (214.0), Wichita State (209.0) and Youngstown State (206.2) each ranked higher in regard to average game compared to the Dukes.
DID YOU KNOW?
Of the 13 matches Duquesne participated in during the Penguin Classic, a total of nine were against opponents ranked in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 poll. The Dukes haven't been below .500 with their overall record since dropping their first two matches of the 2021-22 season at the Motiv Penguin Classic, falling to Mercyhurst and Youngstown State before reeling off nine consecutive wins. The Dukes haven't been below .500 since.
UP NEXT
Duquesne is slated to travel to Orlando, Fla., for Destination Orlando, which begins Friday, Oct. 18, and concludes Sunday, Oct. 20, at AMF Sky Lanes.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
For the latest news and updates on Duquesne bowling, follow the Dukes on X and Instagram.
