BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Simply put, the No. 12 Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling team got the job done this weekend at the final Northeast Conference meet of the regular season. Sitting at 59-34 with a 12-9 mark in the NEC, FDU has solid footing heading into the final team event of the campaign, the Northeast Roundup, scheduled to begin on March 19 in Delaware.

Shaking off a day-opening loss this morning to Saint Francis U (Pa.), 1,015-976, which snapped a six-match winning streak dating back to February 27, the fourth-place Knights showed their resilience as the side marched to three-straight wins to close-out the league scheduled with two of the three coming over ranked opponents.

Following the battle with the Red Flash, the Knights toppled unranked Wagner 957-944 despite falling behind after the first game 195-169. The two sides bowled to a deadlocked Baker total pinfall score of 203 in the second before FDU would break away with a 191-157 third set and a 211-201 victory in the fourth. The Seahawks would take the final game 188-183 though FDU remained on top through the entire match.

Facing No. 17 LIU, FDU paced the way only dropping the fifth and final game of the bout. Defeating the Sharks for the second time in conference play, the Burgundy and Blue carved out a double-digit game win in the first, 279-201, before narrowly taking the next two, the second by four pins (195-191) and the third by only three (193-190). The scoring would widen in the fourth as the Knights came out on top 239-183, though LIU would come back for the revenge in the fifth 221-171. FDU would win the total pinfall scoring tally 1,077 pins to LIU's 986.

In the final match of the regular season NEC slate, Mike LoPresti's Knights were pitted against No. 10 Mount St. Mary's in a much-awaited rematch of the two institutions with the Knights winning the prior meeting in Greensboro, N.C. 4-2 in Baker match play action. Finishing the Mount off 1,054-968, the Knights took game one 195-162 and the second 233-189 before winning the third-straight game 207-176. The Mountaineers would take the last two, 214-207 and 227-212 in the fourth and fifth games, respectively.

Junior Cameron Spring dazzled in the Knights' first three matches of the day hitting 28-of-40 strike attempts, filling 34 out of 40 frames and had a run of 23-of-28 strikes beginning with the Saint Francis U match and concluded with the LIU battle. Likewise impressive was senior Lanasia Neal who had a clutch four-consecutive strikes against the Mount. The South Plainfield, N.J. native impressed with 28-of-34 frames filled (.824) and 14-of-34 strikes, alongside 16-of-19 makeable spare attempts.

FDU's trifecta of graduate students also contributed to the cause beginning with last season's NEC tournament most valuable player Aimee Sherman. The Jackson, N.J. product hit 16-of-36 strikes and a whopping .890 makeable spare percentage hitting 16-of-18 attempts. Sherman filled all but three frames (33-of-36). Reigning NEC Bowler of the Year Jenna Henderson was similarly impressive with the Washington, N.J. native posting 21 strikes in 40 tries, 15-of-17 makeable spares. She filled 36 of 40 frames bowled in the Keystone State.

Lastly, Amanda Chrzanowski shined with 36 of 40 frames filled and a team-leading 37 strikes in 60 strikes (.620). As a team, the Knights clinched fourth place in the 2022 NEC standings, giving the Knights a spot in the upcoming Northeast Conference Championship later this month. 

FDU's game average of 197.57 pins led the eight-team NEC. The Knights finished with a final league pinfall of 20,942 in 21 competitions. Finishing with a 6-1 mark on the weekend, FDU emerged as the top team at the meet logging a total count of 7,091 pins while the next highest was No. 11 Duquesne's 6,644. The Dukes finished the meet with a 5-2 mark.

Following the weekend, LoPresti commented, "It's been a long season with a grueling schedule and this weekend's performance shows how resilient our team is and how much we have grown. I'm proud of how hard the team works and their desire to play at the highest level."