READING, Pa. – The Felician University women's bowling team began its fourth season of varsity intercollegiate competition by competing in the Bud Whitman Memorial Baker Tournament, hosted by Kutztown University on Saturday at Berks Lanes.
The Golden Falcons struggled to a 16th place finish out of 19 teams, averaging 166.3 on the day. Felician was one of five teams to draw a bye as an opponent, and went 1-3 in dual matches on the day.
The tournament format called for five 5-game Baker matches in a one-day event. The final standings were determined by total pinfall. Felician felled 4,158 pins, 19 fewer than 15th place Saint Peter's College, and 48 more than Howard University in 17th.
Senior right-hander Heather Androvich (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) led the Golden Falcons with a Baker frame average of 18.5 for the day. Sophomore righty Nicole Aumack (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) posted a 17.8 figure.
As a team, Felician broke 200 only once out of the 25 Baker games, a 215 in Match 1 against LIU Brooklyn. However, the Golden Falcons also shot under 140 in three of the five games that match, and their 772 total was no match for the Blackbirds' 937. LIU Brooklyn is ranked No. 16 in the national preseason coaches' poll.
Kristin Natoli (Freehold, N.J./Howell) led off and Jessica Zalewski (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) anchored as Felician earned its only win of the day, against No. 21-ranked St. Francis College-Brooklyn, 883-830. Also in the starting lineup against the Terriers were Androvich, sophomore Kristine Verbeke (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley), and senior Kristen Keller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley).
The Golden Falcons later lost to Medaille College, 830-825, and Caldwell University, 866-815.
No. 14 Saint Francis (Pa.) University won the tournament with 4,950 pins (198.0 average). LIU Brooklyn was the only squad to go undefeated in its dual matches, but was the runner-up to the Red Flash by six pins.
Felician continues its season with two more one-day events. On Sunday, it concludes its stay in Reading by completing in the Team portion of the Bud Whitman Memorial. The Golden Falcons then travel to Wallingford, Conn., on Oct. 21 for the Sacred Heart University Bowl for the Cure event.
