The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's bowling team lost a heart-breaking battle to the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore in the 2012 NCAA National Championship game, Saturday, April 14 at Freeway Lanes in Wickliffe, Ohio. 

The Knights fell 2-4 in the best-of-seven Baker match.

“I'm not disappointed," said Head Coach Mike LoPresti.  “But I'm not happy.  These opportunities do not come often and it was right in our grasp but we came up short this season.  But that is just the way it goes in athletics, sometimes the smallest little decisions affect the outcome.”

After dropping the first two games, the Knights sparked a comeback with a 249-167 win in game three.  The Hawks took a 1-3 lead in game four but with their backs against the wall, the Knights did not stop fighting.

With a strong second half, the Knights constructed a score of 223 to earn the win in game five and cut the deficit to just one game.

FDU began the game with a strike by senior Meghan Kelly (Howell, NJ/Howell) but a split in the second frame put the Knights behind.  Strikes midway through the game gave the Knights hope but with a slight advantage, UMES threw three strikes in the tenth frame to win game six, 176-203 and earn their second-consecutive NCAA National Championship. 

It was the Knights' eighth final four appearance in as many championship tournament appearances.  It was their third trip to the championship final, and their second in the last three years.

Following the final, senior Joely Carrillo (Clifton, NJ/Paramus Catholic) was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.