CROYDON, Pa. – The 17th-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling team defeated the second-ranked team in the country as part of a three-win Saturday at the Northeast Invitational.
 
The Knights (26-21) upset no. 2 Sam Houston State 969-935 in their third match of the day while also netting victories over Medaille and Kutztown. The Knights were defeated in two more matches against foes ranked in the top-11 in the NTCA top-25 but scored over 900 pins in four of their five matches and were close to 900 (898) in their fifth.
 
FDU improved by four spots in the standings from 13th to ninth by ending the day totaling a pin fall of 4,705 pins, more than all but three schools in the 26-team field, and averaged 188.2 pins per game in 25 games. Through two days, the Knights have totaled 9,231 pins for an average of 184.6 markers per game.
 
Junior Jenna Henderson placed second among all individuals in the tournament with a 210.2 pins per game average, knocking down at least 190 markers in all five matches. Junior Amanda Chrzanowski anchored all five matches and averaged 198.0 pins per game to place 13th in the individual standings, and junior Aimee Sherman (184.4) also started in all five matches.

"We were more competitive today, with a few of our players stepping up and leading the way," head coach Mike LoPresti said. "Jenna was exceptional, while Amanda and Aimee were solid. Overall it was a good day, going 3 and 2, including a big win against another top ranked team."
 
Senior Brianna MacLeod averaged 180.7 pins per game in three matches, and senior Samantha Hart (172.7 average) also started three matches for the Knights while freshman Cameron Spring made two starts.
 
FDU started its second day of the tournament with its largest victory of the day, defeating Medaille 973-835. Henderson got off to a fast start and finished with a high score of 234, her best of the day, and Chrzanowski did not finish too far behind in scoring a 231. Both juniors filled all 10 of their frames in the match and combined for 14 strikes. Hart contributed a 183 from the leadoff spot, while Sherman (167) and Spring (158) rounded out the FDU scorecard.
 
The momentum was held in check in the team's second match, with the Knights suffering a 962-898 setback against no. 11 Lousiana Tech. Henderson scored the highest for FDU with a 209, while Sherman chipped in a score of 182. Sophomore Lanasia Neal made her only start of the day in the match, combining with Spring for a 179.
 
Chrzanowski then helped power the Knights to its big victory over no. 2 Sam Houston State, pouring in a high score of 245 by filling all 10 of her frames and totaling eight strikes. Henderson also scored high with a 195, with Sherman (182), MacLeod (180) and Spring (167) adding enough pins to help FDU take down its second top-five ranked opponent of the tournament.
 
Against Kutztown, the Knights again found the winning formula in compiling a 962-825 win over the Golden Bears. Henderson led the way with a score of 222, while Sherman scored a 201 with help at end by freshman Lauren Marks. Chrzanowski compiled a 182, and the seniors combined for a 179 in the leadoff spot. Junior Deborah Epps scored a 178 in making her season debut.
 
FDU then matched up with no. 1 ranked McKendree in its final match, and despite a close match throughout, McKendree rallied in the final frames to defeat FDU, 973-903. Henderson (191) and Sherman (190) led FDU in the match, with MacLeod adding a 183 and Chrzanowski finishing her day with a 172. Hart rounded out the FDU scorecard with a total of 167.
 
The Knights enter the Baker best-four-of-seven playoff bracket on Sunday taking on no. 18 Wisconsin-Whitewater at 8:30 a.m., in thier first of three matches. Two FDU wins in the first two contests will mean a possibility of placing as high as seventh. A win over Wisconsin-Whitewater will pit the Knights in the second round against the loser of the Youngstown St.-UMES first-round match, while a loss means facing the winner of the Adelphi-Monmouth first-round matchup.