NEC BRACKET THRU DAY 1 of 2
NEC BRACKET THRU DAY 2 of 2
ELMWOOD PARK, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...Top-seeded New Jersey City University defeated Long Island University in the first round, 4-1, but suffered consecutive losses to fifth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University (4-0) and second-seeded Kutztown University (4-1) as the regular-season champion Gothic Knights were eliminated in the third round of the best 4-of-7, double-elimination Northeast Conference Tournament on March 20 at Parkway Lanes.
NJCU, in its first year as an associate member of the Division I NEC, finishes the regular season with a 72-41 record, and ranked No. 8 in the country among Division I, II and III institutions. The Gothic Knights, the host school for the 2010 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship, will learn on Wednesday, March 24 at 4 p.m. if they will be selected to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive season when the NCAA selection show is aired.
NJCU, which won the NEC regular season title with a 12-2 conference mark—three games clear of second-place Kutztown, drew eighth-seeded Long Island, and defeated the Blackbirds for the fourth time in four meetings this year, taking the series in five games (211-103, 140-163, 162-133, 173-131, 179-134).
NJCU advanced to the second round where it met long-time North Jersey rival Fairleigh Dickinson, the No. 3 ranked school in the country and fifth seed in the tournament. The defending NEC champions advanced into the winner's bracket with a 4-0 sweep of NJCU, 197-191, 181-147, 206-180, 215-180. FDU won the season series from the Knights, 5-4.
That set up an elimination match between the top two seeds as NJCU squared off with #12 Kutztown for the 10th time this season. And while NJCU won the season series, 6-4, and the first two best 4-of-7 series against the Golden Bears during the regular season, it was KU who advanced to Sunday's fourth round, eliminating the Knights in five games, 208-146, 217-178, 179-166, 202-217, 201-176.
On a day where several higher seeds fell, including #3 St. Francis College, FDU and Sacred Heart University advanced to the semifinals on Sunday, March 21 with 2-0 record. Kutztown and Adelphi University are each 2-1 and a loss away from being ousted.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
