LODI, N.J. – Six NCAA women's bowling programs returned to action on Saturday afternoon at the New York Metro Invitational, hosted by Felician University at Lodi Lanes.
All six teams were competing for the first time this season, and the first occasion overall in 11 months, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For host Felician, Saturday marked its initial intercollegiate competition in any sport since March 13, 2020.
"It was fantastic to see our student-athletes competing again," said Felician Director of Athletics Ben "JR" DiNallo, who was in attendance for all four matches. "In what has been a tumultuous year, having the Golden Falcons back in action is good for the soul."
The day was also historic for Felician's women's bowling team, which hosted a tournament for the first time in its seven-year history. The competition is being run as two separate one-day events, and Saturday saw the squads take part in four traditional team matches.
The Golden Falcons produced a team average of 183.1 for the day, but their 3,661 total pins only resulted in a fourth-place finish. Felician's four opponents bowled to an average of 184.2. The hosts were 1-3 in their dual matches, with the victory coming in the opening tilt against Caldwell University, 933-827.
Felician junior right-hander Natalie Swindell (Beachwood, N.J./Toms River South) was named to the event's all-tournament team. Of the 36 bowlers who started at least one match, Swindell ended up in third place with a four-game total of 815.
Swindell was one of four Golden Falcons, including a pair of freshmen, who started all four games. Daisha Howard (Westbury, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) enjoyed a solid collegiate debut with a ninth-place finish, felling 765 pins with a high game of 230. Sophomore Madelyn Weston (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) was 14th with 732, and right behind in 15th was Felician freshman Mia Aish (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (711).
Chestnut Hill College captured the team championship with a score of 3766 (188.3 average), 64 pins better than runner-up Caldwell. The Griffins also went 4-0 in dual matches. Cougar senior Madison Perry shot 257 in Match 4 to finish her at 840 and take tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
The same six teams, which also included Bloomfield College, Molloy College and New Jersey City University, will return to Lodi Lanes on Sunday for four five-game Baker matches beginning at 1:25 p.m.
