TOWSON, Md. – The eighth-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling team won three of five traditional team matches in the second day of the James Brown Invitational on Saturday.
The Knights (59-32) opened the day with a win over NEC rival and 19th-ranked Mount St. Mary's, and they also picked up wins over host Morgan State and Howard. The Knights finished the day in fourth place, totaling 4,629 pins on the day and averaging 185.2 pins per game. Across both days, the Knights have totaled 9,237 pins in the round robin format.
FDU, who finished with a 7-2 record in the first two days of the tournament, will face third-seed Duquesne in its first Baker best four-of-seven playoff match on Sunday, and wins in the first two of three matches would put the Knights in the championship final.
The Knights utilized the same five pinsetters and were led by junior
Samantha Hart, who totaled 1,014 pins and averaged 202.8 pins per game, finishing with four games of 200-plus pin totals. Senior
Amy Caruso, junior
Brianna MacLeod, and sophomores
Amanda Chrzanowski and
Aimee Sherman also played in all five matches for the Knights.
"Our play became more consistent and as a result we were far more productive today," head coach
Mike LoPresti said at the end of play. "It should give us some momentum into bracket play tomorrow. Sammy Hart's big day certainly made a difference. Her exploits from the leadoff position served as a huge catalyst for the rest of the lineup throughout the day."
The Knights first defeated Mount St. Mary's by a score of 907-876. The Knights rallied back from a deficit early on, pulling out the win despite being down 65 pins going into the eighth frame. Hart contributed a 202 at the leadoff spot and Chrzanowski also rolled her best game of the day, finishing with a 226.
Chrzanowski continued her hot hand against Chestnut Hill in the Knights' second match with a 200, but the Knights as a team fell 924-886. MacLeod contributed her best effort of the day with a 192 in the loss.
FDU, however, rallied back with a 936-874 win over host Morgan State. The Knights again faced a deficit heading into the eighth frame and pulled out the win, this time coming back after being down by 40 pins. Sherman (207) and Hart (202) were the big benefactors for the Knights in the victory, with Caruso also contributing a 193.
Against sixth-ranked UMES, the Knights trailed by 72 pins heading into the 10th frame and were able to make up most of the deficit but fell short by six pins, suffering a 945-939 loss. Hart rolled her best game of the day with a 223, and Sherman also played her best game, adding a 213 to the team score.
Facing both Howard and a chance to make it into the top four for a chance at the championship, the Knights not only defeated Howard, 965-884, but also erased a 58-pin deficit to the team ahead of them in the standings, Caldwell, to leapfrog into fourth place. Hart led the Knights with a 222, while Caruso saved her best effort for last with a 206. Chrzanowski added a 191 score as well.
Sunday's three-round playoff bracket starts at 9:30 a.m. at AMF Towson Lanes. Check back here at fduknights.com at the end of the day for the final results and recap.
