March 9, 2009

North Brunswick, N.J. - The Panthers traveled to North Brunswick, New Jersey on Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8 to compete in the team competition portion of the East Coast Athletic Association Championship (ECAC). After posting a 3-3 record on the first day, the Panthers managed to tally another three wins and just two losses to finish in fifth place.

The Panthers opened the day with a 956-903 loss to Morgan State University despite a 201 by Danielle Merino and a 178 by Cristina Reale. The Hornets of DESU passed the millennium mark and downed the Keglers by 228 pins on the way to a 1029-801 victory. Adelphi got on the plus side with a 840-777 win over Norfolk State University. Erika Drake (180), Kristen Hayes (180), and Danielle Locurto (179) led the way and were assisted by Reale and Merino. Defending NCAA Champions UMES outlasted the panthers by 27 pins despite the efforts of Merino (220), Drake (204), Locurto (200), Fischer (186) and Hayes in the 994-967 loss. Howard University could not withstand a 978 effort by Adelphi and fell by 192 pins. Drake (235), Hayes (211), Locurto (193), Merino (181) and Fischer led the way in a 978-786 win. Coppin State was blitzed by 336 pins in another Panther win, 993-657. Reale (216), Jennifer Ferraro (213), Dianna Molenko (201), Elizabeth Herbert (186), and Gina Lella (177) combined their efforts for the win. The Panthers finished the day 3-3 and in 6th place.

Day three action saw the competition switch to Baker play. The Panthers trailed the Pirates of Hampton by 65 pins but rallied back to tie the match at 679-679. A modified Baker game was used as a tie-breaker. Hampton came out on top in the tie breaker, 114-96 to take the match, 793-775. The Panthers then faced the #2 Knights of FDU. The Keglers opened a 73 pin lead and was able to hang on for the 96 pin margin of victory, 833-737. NJCU was able to overcome a 56 pin Adelphi lead to serve Adelphi another loss, 775-744. Adelphi was able to even up the score as they defeated Morgan State 4-3 in a best of seven Baker series as they out dueled the Bears 156-143 in the deciding game seven. The Panthers had rallied back from 0-2 to take games 3-5 then faltered in game six to set up the dramatic finish. The final match of the day saw Adelphi face their NEC rival St. Francis College. The Panthers dropped game one but rallied to take games two and three. The see-saw battle resulted in Adelphi prevailing in game seven 181-169.

The Panthers finished the Championship in a tie for sixth place with a 6-5 record. This brings their record for the season to 67-54, the most wins in the program's short history. The team will travel to Smyrna, Tennessee to compete at the Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14.

Day Two Results

Adelphi - 903 Morgan State - 956

Adelphi - 801 DESU - 1029

Adelphi - 840 Norfolk State - 777

Adelphi - 967 U. Maryland of Eastern Shore - 994

Adelphi - 978 Howard - 786

Adelphi - 993 Coppin State - 657

Day Three Results

ADELPHI - 775 Hampton - 793

ADELPHI - 833 Farleigh Dickinson - 737

ADELPHI - 744 NJCU - 775

ADELPHI - 4 Morgan - 3

ADELPHI - 4 St. Francis - 3