College athletics nicknames quandry

[Whatsahoe]

There is a local university called Duquesne and their sports teams are called the Dukes but their women's teams are the Lady Dukes. Wouldn't that be a duchess?
Lady Tigers should be "tigeress" right? I don't get the reasoning for naming in the manner that they do.

[PhygLeGuy]

A Lady Bulldog should be a Cowdog, and a Lady Hoya should be a Hirla.

It might be best to refrain from using university and reasoning in the same paragraph.

[mavman]

Wouldn't a Lady Bulldog be a CowBitch?