The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's bowling team captured first place at the St. Francis College New Years Knockdown on Saturday, Jan. 21. The weekend event, held at 10 Strike Lanes in Brooklyn, NY consists of two one-day tournaments. Saturday's competition included five traditional team games, while Sunday will see Baker game matches with a bracket format.
The Knights went 5-0 on the day to improve to 50-12 on the season.
The Knights faced Brooklyn-based LIU in the first match of the day. Danielle McEwan (Stony Point, NY/Stony Point), who was recently named to Team USA, led the squad with a score of 225. Michelle Hunzaker (Cary, NC/Green Hope High School) and Liat Vizenfeld (Holon, Israel/Campus Kiryat Sharet) added scores of 196 and 193, respectively, to give the Knights a total of 973. LIU bowled a total 952, giving FDU their first win of the day.
In match two, the Knights took on 2011 NCAA Champions, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. With a high-score of 246 by senior Meghan Kelly (Howell, NJ/Howell), as well as a 238 from McEwan, a 213 from Vizenfeld and a 201 by Hunzaker, the Knights out-scored the Hawks, 1,081-1,056.
FDU matched up with Hampton University in match three. McEwan led the squad once again with a high-score of 225. The Knights combined for a team score of 934 to defeat the Pirates, who scored 743.
Senior Joely Carrillo (Clifton, NJ/Paramus Catholic) scored a season-high 277 in game four against Delaware State. Kelly added a 211, while Hunzaker bowled a 206 to lead the Knights to a total score of 1,069. They out-scored the Hornets, 1,069 to 986 to earn their fourth win of the day.
In the fifth and final traditional team game, FDU faced in-state rival, New Jersey City University. Hunzaker led the team with a 259, while McEwan compiled a score of 248 after five-straight strikes. The team combined for a 1,081 to defeat NJCU, who scored 925.
McEwan led the field with a 1,129 pin total through five games for an average of 225.8. She was ten pins better than the second highest average in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Hunzaker averaged 206 through five games, while Kelly also broke 200 with a 202.2 average.
“It is never easy competing after the winter break,” said Head Coach Mike LoPresti. “We were able to regain our team chemistry by the middle of the first match and really hit our stride during the final two games of the day.”
“We are very proud to say we out-scored the field in the total pin fall standings, but winning matches was our priority today.”
The Knights will resume action with Baker play on Sunday, Jan. 22.
