New Jersey City University Athletics

BRACKET

READING, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The #10/10 ranked New Jersey City University women's bowling team went 2-1 in a trio of best four-of-seven Baker series and earned a ninth place finish in the 28-team 2012 Kutztown Invitational, as the largest event in NCAA bowling completed the third and final day of competition  on Sunday at Hiester Lanes.
 
NJCU improved to 35-22 on the season as the Gothic Knights, ranked #10 nationally in Division I, II and III in both the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Coaches and Media polls, defeated Long Island University, 4-games-to-1 in the first round of bracket play, before falling to #11/11 Stephen F. Austin University, 4-games-to-3. In the ninth place match, the Knights defeated host school and #15/14t ranked Kutztown University, 4-games-to-2.
 
In round one of bracket place, NJCU avenged its only two losses in history against unranked but red-hot Long Island University—both last weekend at the New Year Knockdown hosted by St. Francis (NY)—and improved to 13-2 all-time against the Blackbirds, but posting a convincing 4-1 victory, 186-161, 213-191, 158-148, 157-181, 205-169.
 
NJCU's five-woman Baker lineup featured junior KAITLYN SCHROEDER (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional), senior AMY BREHM (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick), sophomore NICOLE BAGINSKY (South River, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick), junior KELLY DAUNNO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) and senior JENNIFER DAUNNO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret). In game five, rookie SONJA SHIRAK (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) moved into the leadoff role, subbing for KELLY DAUNNO, as Schroeder and Baginsky moved into the bridge and set-up roles.
 
In the second playoff match, Stephen F. Austin held off NJCU, 4-3 (215-144, 150-192, 174-182, 171-167, 177-182, 212-193, 201-213), for its second win of the tournament against the Knights as the Jacks improved to 3-1 all-time in the series. NJCU started a lineup of Schroeder-Brehm-Shirak-Baginsky-JENNIFER DAUNNO and the match was tied 2-2 after each team earned one decisive win and one narrow victory over the first four games.
 
In game five, NJCU opened in the 10^th frame and that allowed SFAU to survive for a five-pin, 182-177 decision. The Knights tied the series with the 212-193 game six win. In game seven, sophomore ASHLEY LANE (Brick, NJ/Brick Township) entered the match in the leadoff spot, followed by Brehm, Schroeder, Baginsky and JENNIFER DAUNNO. After going back and forth with the Jacks, NJCU needed a mark in the 10^th frame but did not get it as SFAU held on to win, 213-201 and took the series in seven games.
 
For the fourth consecutive year, NJCU and rival Kutztown met in the playoff bracket on the final day of the Kutztown Invitational and for the third time in that span, the Gothic Knights were the victorious team. NJCU improved to 2-0 this season against the preseason Northeast Conference-favorite Golden Bears, and 17-13 all-time, knocking off Kutztown, 4-2 (203-210, 206-148, 162-246, 210-168, 201-199, 199-154).
 
NJCU's lineup was constant throughout the match with a rotation of Lane-Brehm-Schroeder-Baginsky-JENNIFER DAUNNO. KU won the opening game by seven pins before the schools traded lopsided decisions in games two (58-pin win) and three (84-pin loss). But NJCU responded to the 2-1 deficit by winning the final three games to take the series in six.
 
After winning game four by 42 pins, 210-168 to even the series, NJCU edged the Bears in game five by just two, 201-199. The Knights had a modest lead heading into the eighth frame before Schroeder tossed a strike and Baginsky converted a spare in the ninth frame. In the 10^th frame, Kutztown anchor and tournament MVP Kayla Jones struck out to give the Bears a chance but JENNIFER DAUNNO got a nine-spare in the 10^th frame and enough pins on her final throw to clinch the win. NJCU cruised by 45 pins, 199-154 in the sixth game to seal the win.
 
Defending NCAA champion and #4/6 ranked University of Maryland Eastern Shore won the tournament, upsetting #2/2 Fairleigh Dickinson University twice, including 4-1 in the finals, to claim the title. FDU was second with #3/3 Sacred Heart University, #6t/7 Vanderbilt University and #1/1 Valparaiso University rounding out the top five.
 
NJCU is 6-3 in the Northeast Conference and in third place as an associate member in the 10-team Division I league. The Knights return to action on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5 in the second of three NEC events this season. Saint Francis University (Pa.) will host the event in Altoona, Pa.