ALLENTOWN, Pa. (March 11, 2017) – The #20 nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce women's bowling team returned to the lanes on Saturday for the first day of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Sectionals in Allentown at the AMF Rose Bowl.

The USBC Sectionals is a postseason event for collegiate bowling. In order to compete this weekend, teams have to qualify in the nation's top-64. The 64 squads are spread out across four locations and the team's bowl four blocks of four baker games, break for lunch then return to play with four more blocks of four baker contests. The top four teams from each location advance to nationals in April.

Currently, Franklin Pierce is in 16th place following 32 games. As a team FPU has knocked down a total of 5,099 pints. Webber Int'l sits in first place at 6,319 pins followed by Maryland – Eastern Shore (6,055) and Wright State (6,034) round out the top three.

Joining freshman Katey Comstock (Hartland, Vt.) in the tournament are Rachel DesRuisseaux (Goffstown, N.H.), Meggin Brooks (Rotterdam, N.Y.), Erin Mastropietro (Mechanicville, N.Y.) and Brittany Hovan (Paramus, N.J.).

The five bowlers combined to score their four best games in the first 16 contests on Saturday. They rolled to a day-high 196 in game six. Three games before their best rolls of the morning, FPU dropped 190 pins in game three. The Ravens scored 184 and 183 in games nine and 15 respectively.

FPU fared better in the first 16 contests as they connected on 2,576 pins, 53 more than the final 16 matches.

The Ravens look to improve their standing tomorrow in the final day of team scoring.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce bowling apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).