NEW CASTLE, Del. – The eighth-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling team went 5-0 and sits in first place after the first day of competition at the Northeast Season Ender.
 
The Knights (79-45) totaled over 1,000 pins in each of their five rounds for a total of 5,331 pins, averaging 213.2 pins per game to lead the six-team field after the first day. The Knights were the only team to win all five of their matches, which consisted of three traditional team games and two Baker total pinfall games.
 
Sophomore Jenna Henderson led the field in traditional games with a 248.33 pin average, totaling over 240 pins in each of her three games. Sophomore Amanda Chrzanowski placed third in the standings with a 218.0 average, while sophomore Aimee Sherman (208.67, 7th) and junior Samantha Hart (204.67, 8th) also cracked the top 10 individual standings. Senior Amy Caruso averaged 196.5 pins per game in her two traditional games, and junior Brianna MacLeod bowled a 186 in her lone match of the day.
 
FDU totaled 1,065 in its first traditional game, 1,080 in its second and 1,073 in their final traditional game. In the two Baker matches, the Knights rolled total scores of 1,015 and 1,098.
 
The Knights first defeated sixth-ranked Maryland-Eastern Shore, the only other ranked opponent in the tournament field, in a 1065-1037 traditional match. Henderson led the Knights with a 247, and Sherman was close to her score with a 240. Chrzanowski also bowled a 208, while Hart added a 184 and MacLeod contributed a 186 in her lone traditional match of the day.
 
FDU then continued its strong start against the Hawks with a 1015-949 Baker match win. The Knights jumped ahead by 45 pins after the first two games, but the Hawks dropped the margin to 20 after the third frame. The Knights then played a strong fourth game, winning 224-182, to help them earn enough pins to win the match. Chrzanowski, Sherman, Hart and Henderson along with freshman Lanasia Neal made starts for the Knights, with Caruso subbing in as well.
 
Moving on to face Wilmington, the Knights cruised to a 1080-761 tradtional match victory. Henderson again was the leader with a 242, while Hart (225), Chrzanowski (224) and Caruso (204) all bowled over 200 as well. Sherman rounded out the Knights total with a 185.
 
The Knights also defeated Wilmingon in Baker match play, 1098-886. With Caruso starting in place of Neal, the Knights again jumped out to an early 66-pin lead after two games and then also improved their margin by winning the fourth game, 266-164, as well as the fifth frame, 244-157, to help build a comfortable lead.
 
FDu ended its day with one more traditional match win, a 1073-919 victory over Chestnut Hill. Henderson saved her best game for last with a team-high 256, while Chrzanowski continued her strong day with a 222. Hart (205) and Sherman (201) also rolled 200-plus pin games, and Caruso tallied a 189 to round out the Knights scorecard.
 
The Knights will enter Baker best four-of-seven bracket play on Sunday as the top seed, taking on UMES in their first-round matchup.