TOWSON, Md. -- Kutztown University women's bowling looked to continue its late season surge on Friday at the Morgan State-hosted James Brown Invitational. The Golden Bears split four Baker matches and are currently ranked third of 15 teams in total pinfall following the opening day of play at AMF Towson Lanes.

The Golden Bears started fast against the hosts with Renee Riffey (Glen Burnie, Md./North County), Dana Henry (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township), Alexis Case (Ocean, N.J./Ocean Township), Madison Burkert (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and Keanna Delp (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) combining to put 205 and 212 on the board in their first two games of the day. Kutztown got the better of Morgan State in four of the five games to claim its first match of the day, 948-884.

Tough first and fourth games put a damper on KU's match with Felician. Though the Maroon and Gold finished with a 206 and put together back-to-back 193s in games two and three, it could not overcome a 21-pin setback in the first and a 34-pin disadvantage in the fourth, falling 944-900.

Kutztown (46-39) got a chance to reset with an opening in its middle match. Coach Angela Reynolds flipped spots in the lineup during the bye as the Bears put up an 869 series with a top game of 201.

Duquesne, the 10th-ranked team in the nation, recovered from a 219-178 loss to KU in game one, putting up a 224 in game two and 234 in game three to take control. Though the Golden Bears won game four, 158-149, and game five, 158-153, Duquesne emerged with a 938-890 overall advantage.

Laura Hartley (Mt Pleasant Mills, Pa./Midd-West), who stepped in against Duquesne, got another shot with Riffey, Case, Delp and Burkert against Norfolk State. KU improved in every game, finishing with a 192, 202 and 207 in its final three games to cruise 940-782.

Mount Saint Mary's, the No. 14 team in the NTCA's February Poll, leads the tournament with 4,703 pins and a 188.1 average. Duquense is second at 4,658, while the Golden Bears are thidr at 4,547 (181.9 average) --just 156 pins out of the lead. The top 11 teams in the standings are separated by less than 400 pins.

As the format turns to traditional play on Saturday, KU will open with tourney leader Mount Saint Mary's at 10 a.m. The Bears are also scheduled to face Howard, Bowie State, Bloomfield and Chestnut Hill tomorrow.