BLACKWOOD, N.J. – With a pair of early Saturday morning victories in baker play at Bowlero Turnersville, the 25th-ranked Kutztown University women's bowling team sits in third place after the second day of competition at the Wildcat DII Invitational, hosted by Wilmington (Del.) University.
The Golden Bears (42-25 overall) had a pair of exceptional games to open its second day of competition, collecting wins over Emmanuel (Ga.) (1052-818) and Daemen (947-812). It followed up the day by getting some of its next three opponents' best scores, but the team was able to remain in third place heading into the final game.
Its final three matches ended with scores favoring the opposition, with a 1009-951 third match against Emmanuel (Ga.), a 1010-908 fourth match against No. 15 Newman and a 977-887 final match against Felician.
The group of
Sydney Snyder (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic),
Miranda Pielhau (Waretown, N.J./Southern Regional),
Isabella Hopper (Mifflinville, Pa./Berwick),
Kamryn Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York) and
Madilyn Bogovic (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) collected both of the wins on Saturday, opening each of its first two matches with 220+ pin games and adding late 200+ pin marks to strengthen its total pinfall and help top its opponents.
While several strong games were pieced together in each of the final three matches, its challenging competition – especially a highly ranked Newman squad that sits atop the tournament standings and an always challenging Felician team – each caught fire on the back half of the day and were able to surpass the Maroon and Gold.
The team's 4,745 total pinfall, combined with its 4,656 mark from Friday, helped lock Kutztown in third place entering Sunday's bracket play. Newman and Emmanuel (Ga.) precede KU in the top three, while Dominican (N.Y.) and Felician round out the top five.
The standings set up the Golden Bears on the championship track heading into Sunday's best-of-seven baker competition, where they will bowl its first of three matches against Dominican (N.Y.) at 9 a.m. as it looks to conclude the Wildcat DII Invitational on a high note.
