OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University's first day as the host of the 2010 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship on April 7 was successful as the Gothic Knights went 4-3 overall, and were as high as second in the standings until the final round, before clinching the No. 4 seed heading into the double-elimination best 4-of-7 on April 9, as the NCAA Championship commenced at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes.
NJCU, which posted wins again Arkansas State University, Delaware State University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore—losing to University of Central Missouri, University of Nebraska and Vanderbilt University—improved its overall record to 76-44 and will face rival and fifth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University (83-38) in the opening round of the double-elimination bracket on April 9 at 9:30 a.m.
In the first-ever championship held in New Jersey, the two New Jersey teams will square off in the opening round. It will be the 11th meeting this year between the NJCU and FDU, both members of the Northeast Conference, and the season series is tied, 5-5. NJCU will face either top-seeded and tournament undefeated Nebraska or #8 seed Central Missouri in the second round at 11:20 a.m.
FRANK PARISI, the 2010 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year and Chair of the NCAA National Committee, was pleased with his team's overall performance in the seven matches, especially considering NJCU defeated both UMES and Delaware State for the first time this season.
“Absolutely. I think we ran out of gas a little bit in the last match, but Vanderbilt bowled a terrific game. We went 4-3 against this top-notch field, and the way we bowled the first six games, I'm very happy about it. I just hope we can duplicate it again tomorrow. I don't see why we can't.”
It was the first time in the seven-year history of the NCAA Championship—of which NJCU has qualified every season—that the qualifying round consisted of seven traditional team game matches with seeding determined by won-lost percentage. For NJCU, which moved into second place in the fifth and sixth rounds, before settling for fourth place after a loss to Vanderbilt in the seventh match of the day, it marks the third consecutive year that it has been seeded fourth or higher after qualifying. The Knights were fourth in 2008 and second in 2009. Prior to that, NJCU had not achieved as much success on the opening day of the championship. The Knights were seeded sixth in 2004 and 2005, seventh in 2007 and eighth in 2006, yet recovered in time to reach the Final Four in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Individually, four Gothic Knights placed among the Top 25 and two cracked the Top 11. Junior NICOLE DREJERWSKI (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic), who was named the Division III National Player of the Year on Wednesday night, celebrated with a ninth place finish and seven-game pinfall of 1414 (178-186-173-222-212-233-210). She unleashed four consecutive 200 games to close the day and averaged a 202.0.
Senior JENN MARMO (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) listed 11th and was one of 15 players to average 200 or better. She tallied total wood of 1,405 (194-212-208-175-195-235-186) and a 200.71 average. Senior CANDICE D'ANGELO (Coram, NY/Longwood (NY), averaged a 192.71 and was 17th with 1,349 total pins in seven games (224-193-211-176-182-189-174).
Sophomore JENNIFER DAUNNO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) finished 23rd with 1,314 pins (183-176-202-167-190-232-164). Also for NJCU, freshman KELLY DAUNNO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret), the NCAA Division III National Rookie of the Year, listed 30th with 1123 pins in six games (199-195-160-199-215-155) and averaged 187.17. Sophomore AMY BREHM (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) bowled one game for the Knights.
On Thursday, NJCU started slow, losing to Central Missouri, 1054-978, falling to 0-4 on the season against the Jennies. D'Angelo tossed a 224 in the loss.
After losing the first four meeting to Delaware State this year, the fifth time was the charm as NJCU downed the Hornets, 962-905. Marmo had NJCU's high game with a 212.
In the 10th meeting of the year between the top two Northeast programs, NJCU made it five wins
against FDU, winning the third qualifying match, 954-926. NJCU's two seniors led the way, with D'Angelo tossing a 211 and Marmo at 208.
NJCU ran into a Nebraska team that uncorked some of the highest game scores ever recorded in NCAA qualifying in the fourth round, losing 1109-939. The Huskers went 7-0 on the day with a high team game of 1173. Nebraska has won both meetings against NJCU this year. Drejerwski threw a 222 in the loss.
NJCU was consistent during the morning session, and despite finishing 2-2, Parisi was pleased with his team's level of play.
“In this sport, you can't play any defense and hats off to [Nebraska] for bowling the way they did. We were very consistent and we did what we needed to do by winning those middle two matches. I'm fine with the way my team has performed so far.”
NJCU won the first two matches of the afternoon session to temporarily take control of second place. In a 994-962 win against Arkansas State, KELLY DAUNNO rolled a 215 and Drejerwski added a 212 as NJCU improved to 4-1 against ASU this year, winning the last four against the Red Wolves.
In the sixth match, NJCU and Maryland Eastern Shore, the #2 ranked team in the country, posted the two highest scores of the round, with the Knights claiming a 1044-1011 victory behind three games of better than 230, as Marmo uncorked a 235, Drejerwski collected a 233 and D'Angelo displaced 232 pins. It was NJCU's first win in four matches against the Hawks this year.
NJCU could have clinched the #2 seed with a win over Vanderbilt but dropped the final match, 1004-877, as the Knights ran out of gas at the end of the long opening day. Arkansas State, which finished 5-2, claimed that #2 seed, and with Vanderbilt owning a 4-3 record and a head-to-head win against NJCU, edged the Knights for third place. Drejerwski unleashed a 210 in the loss to the Commodores, who lead the season series, 4-1.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
