CROYDON, Pa. -- The Kutztown University women's bowling team hit the lanes for the first time in 2020, Friday, with the start of the three-day Northeast Classic at AMF Bristol Pike Lanes. The Golden Bears produced a 3-2 record in Baker play, including a victory over 23rd-ranked Monmouth and sit 21st in the overall standings.

This weekend's 26-team field is arguably the stiffest competition Kutztown has --or will- face this season. Seventeen teams sit in the top 25 of the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25, while another two are receiving votes.

The Golden Bears (25-25) got off on the right foot with the 12th-highest opening match score in an 989-781 triumph over Howard. KU's lineup of Ashley Fister (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy), Lindsey Gotwalt (Hanover, Md./Meade), Dana Henry (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township), Madison Burkert (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and Rachel Wagner (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew) registered a high-game of 201 in the finale against the Bison and threw a 191 in a game-two victory.

Coach Angela Reynolds rolled with the same five against Long Island, which is receiving votes in the NTCA Poll, but the Maroon and Gold could never get on track in a 900-727 setback.

Freshman Eleni Feggulis (South River, N.J./South River) and sophomore Kelly Normandin (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst Central) were inserted against Monmouth and Burkert slid into the anchor role. The switches resulted in KU's third win over a top 25 team this season, 873-860. The Bears trailed 179-147 after the opening game, but made up much of that deficit in a 165-140 game two win and took the lead behind a 193-174 victory in game three. Monmouth pulled out a five-pin decision, 192-187, in game four to close within seven, but KU held on in the fifth, 181-175.

Kutztown rode the momentum of its win over Monmouth to its highest-scoring match of the day in a decisive 976-847 win over a Molloy team that had twice gotten the best of them this season. Feggulis, Gotwalt, Normandin, Wagner and Burkert exceeded the 200 threshold in games two (213-157), three (200-159) and four (202-184) and won four of five games overall.

The Bears finished up the day with a tough 861-841 loss to No. 24 Wilmington (Del.) that was decided in the final game on a 24-pin victory by the Wildcats, 158-134. Henry was back in the fold for the finale and after falling behind by 87 pins after two games following a tough 232-158 game two result, KU turned things around. It won game three on the strength of its best game of the entire day, 215-176, and broke free in game four for a 193-141 victory.

While the Bears' 4,315 total pinfall (172.6 average) is 21st in the standings, a strong weekend is well within their grasp headed into traditional play on Saturday. Just 197 pins separate KU from 14th-place Youngstown State. KU also sits ahead of nationally-ranked Delaware State and Chestnut Hill, which is just outside the top 25.

Saturday's matches begin at 9:30 a.m. The Golden Bears are slated to face three nationally-ranked opponents, including No. 7 North Carolina A&T, No. 17 Fairleigh Dickinson and No. 21 Adelphi.