NEW CASTLE, Del. -- The Kutztown University women's bowling team opened its 2021-22 season with a 3-2 record in Baker play at the Bud Whitman Memorial, Saturday.

The Golden Bears came out strong, topping host Chestnut Hill in four of five games on their way to a 864-749 win. Ashley Fister (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy), Lindsey Gotwalt (Hanover, Md./Meade), Molly Agnello (Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and Madison Lund (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) got the call in KU's debut match.

KU opened a 65-pin gap right off the bat, 185-120 in game one, slipped by 169-161 in game two and extended their lead by 29 pins with a 157-128 triumph in game three. They'd finish with another 29-pin surplus in game five, rolling a match-high 194 in a 194-165 win.

Mount Saint Mary's topped the 1000-pin plateau in defeating the Maroon and Gold, 1006-767, before Caldwell pulled away from the Bears late for a 950-873 decision.

Kutztown refused to dwell on the pair of setbacks. Fister, Agnello, Rachel Wagner (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Depew), Sromovski and Lund kept their composure in a tight match with East Coast Conference foe Felician to emerge with an 838-819 victory. The Bears' 187-164 win in the opening game proved to be crucial as the four remaining games were all decided by 10 pins or less.

Four of the five teams KU took on came out of the ECC and the Bears wrapped up the day with another statement by holding off a game Wilmington (Del.) side 903-854. Fister led off again ahead of freshman Alexis Schweizer (), Lund, Sromovski and anchor Wagner. Kutztown was especially good in its first and third games, putting up a 197 in the icebreaker and a 222 --their best score of the day-- for a 40-pin victory in the middle game.

Coach Angela Reynolds was pleased with the overall performance of the team, citing a strong day by Fister and Schweizer answering the call to come in cold against Wilmington with just one open frame in her first collegiate match.

Kutztown will return to the lanes at Bowlerama on Sunday morning to complete play in the Bud Whitman Memorial with five traditional matches. Fans can watch the matches live at KUBears.com/watch.