HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — For the first time since 2014, the Sacred Heart University bowling program lost in the first round of the Northeast Conference Championships on Friday. The Pioneers fell 2-1 against second-seeded Duquesne, which landed them in the loser's bracket.

The NEC Bowling Championships is a four-team double-elimination bracket. The matches are a "mega match," where each team bowls all three formats, with the winner advancing after securing two wins.

The Pioneers play number four seed Mount St. Mary on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Round 1

No. 3 SHU versus No. 2 Duquesne

Format 1 – Team Game

SHU 1098, DU 987

215 Colby Jones

200 Nicole Cona

256 Skyler Mulligan-Brown

226 Paige Donovan

201 Rachel Bamford

Format 2 – Baker Total Pinfall

DU 1079, SHU 1013 

SHU – DU

245 – 201

161 – 235

211 – 212

173 – 245

223 – 186

• Individually Colby Jones led with 228 for the 10 frames, followed by Skyler Mulligan-Brown with 206.

Format 3 – Baker Best of Seven

DU 4, SHU 2

SHU – DU

192 – 255 L

258 – 216 W

212 – 243 L

213 – 232 L

202 – 198 W

155 – 201 L 

• Amanda Shelters came in off the bench as a substitute for Skyler Mulligan-Brown, striking six of her eight first shots.
• Jones shot 256 in 10 frames, with Shelters tallying 224.