CORAM, N.Y. -- Kutztown University women's bowling appears ready to peak at the right time after winning all five of its Baker qualifying matches on the opening day of the East Coast Conference Championship at Coram Country Lanes, Friday.

The Golden Bears were impressive throughout the day as the only team to post an unbeaten 5-0 record in qualifying play, including a 978-939 upset of 14th-ranked and favorite Mercyhurst in their fifth and final match.

Kutztown (47-33) took a little time to get its game in order, but still had plenty in the tank to cruise past Saint Anselm, 840-640, in its first match, which went off a 8:05 a.m.

Angela Reynolds' team had to overcome a 74-pin deficit against Bryant after the Bulldogs came out of the gates with a 224 in the opening game. The quintet of Rachel Wagner (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Depew), Sydney Snyder (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic), Madison Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York), Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) and Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) started their climb back with a 180-152 win in the second and went in front for good by blowing Bryant away with a match-high 234 in game four on their way to a 914-876 victory.

Ally Sipe (York, Pa./Central York) entered the lineup against Roberts Wesleyan as the scores continued to climb for the Maroon and Gold. A 226 in game four paved the way for a 927-892 win, despite Roberts Wesleyan's best attempts at a late comeback with a 223 in the finale.

With two matches remaining in qualifiers, KU put forth the type of performance that will be necessary to bring home the conference championship trophy. Sipe, Snyder, Brenneman, Hanaway and Sromovski rolled 200+ scores in all five games, with a 236 in game two tops in a 1078-878 victory.

Kutztown kept the momentum rolling against the No. 14 Lakers of Mercyhurst, coming out on top for the second time in three meetings this season. The teams went back-and-forth over the first three games, with the Bears jumping on top 204-190 only to see Mercyhurst respond with a 223-147 win in game two. KU drew within three pins after winning game three 224-165 and took the lead for good with a 199-192 win in game four. A 204 put a wrap on the match as the Golden Bears emerged with a 978-959 triumph.

While Kutztown was the only 5-0 team after qualifying, they earned the second seed in best-of-seven double-elimination bracket play by virtue of their 4,737 total team score (189.5 average). Mercyhurst, despite the loss to KU, scored 5,030 (201.2 average) to take the top seed. Still, the No. 2 seed kept the Bears out of Friday's first round of best-of-seven double-elimination bracket play. Kutztown will face either No. 7 seed Molloy or No. 10 seed Adelphi Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.