NEW CASTLE, Del. - - In its final tune up of the 2019-20 regular season, the Wilmington University finished fourth overall at the Northeast Region Roundup on Sunday at Bowlerama.
The Wildcats went 2-3 in Traditional matches on Saturday, going into Sunday in third place while hosting the Northeast Region Roundup. On Sunday, the Wildcats went 1-1 in Baker matches, but then lost both Baker Bracket matches to fall to fourth overall for the tournament.
On Saturday, the Wildcats started off hot, bowling a 1,055 in a victory over Mercyhurst. The Wildcats then went for 1,015, but lost to #15 Fairleigh Dickinson to fall to 1-1 on the day. The Wildcats dropped a match to St. Francis (NY) but came back to defeat Chestnut Hill, 928-841. Saturday ended with a 1,096-947 loss to #22 Monmouth.
Individually, the Wildcats were led by freshman KC Miller, as she finished 13th overall with a 202.80 average. She had a team high 244 against Chestnut Hill, but also bowled games of 208 and 202 on the day. She finished with a five-match total of 1,014 pins.
Fellow freshman CC Riojas finished 15th overall, finishing with a 984 and a 196.80 average. She had a day's high 240 against #15 Fairleigh Dickinson, adding two addition 200-games with a 206 against Mercyhurst and a 202 against #22 Monmouth.
The final three Wildcats were all bunched in the standings, with juniors Bailey Peters and Rachel Hirst finishing in a tie for 20th overall with a 191.80 average. Peters earned her 959 total with a day's high 216 against Mercyhurst, and finished with matches of 166-191-195-191. Hirst also had a day's high 214 against Mercyhurst, finishing the afternoon with a 202-205-165-173 for her 959.
Junior Malia Stout finished directly behind Peters and Hirst in 22nd overall, collecting a 951 for a 190.20 average. She bowled a day's high 214 against #15 Fairleigh Dickinson, adding a 211 against Mercyhurst.
The leaderboard was saturated with Fairleigh Dickinson bowlers, as the top three were all Knights. Amanda Chrzanowski led the tournament with a 1,263 pinfall, bowling a 252.60 average.
On Sunday, the Wildcats defeated Bloomfield, 1,021-901 in their first Baker match, but fell to Caldwell, 931-915, heading into bracket play.
Squaring off against top seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, the Wildcats extended the match with a 243-205 win in game four, but it wasn't enough as the Knights defeated the Wildcats, 4-1. Now playing for third place, the Wildcats evened the match, 1-1, with a 236-200 win in game two against St. Francis (NY), but the Terriers won the final three games to take the match, 4-1.
Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Monmouth, 4-1, in the championship match to win the tournament.
The Wildcats will now prepare for the East Coast Conference (ECC) Championships, as they begin the postseason on Friday, March 20. The tournament will be hosted by Chestnut Hill at the Limerick Bowl in Limerick, Pennsylvania.