PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (March 25, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University women's bowling program achieved two milestones at the 2018 East Coast Conference Championship Sunday hosted by no. 11 nationally-ranked Adelphi University at the Port Jeff Bowl.

Over the past two seasons, the Crimson and Grey placed fourth each appearance in the conference tournament. This year the Ravens eased through baker play and the double elimination bracket to a second place finish as they were defeated 4-1 in the deciding series to no. 23 nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial University after staving off elimination with a 4-2 victory in the first championship string. The Ravens 4-2 win was also their 200th in program history. During the first showdown with LMU, the Ravens took control of the series with a Sunday-best 242 frame in game three to lead 2-1. They responded by racking up a 200 in game five and a 213 in the series-clinching game.

Franklin Pierce achieved an 8-3 mark over the course of the weekend. On Saturday, they defeated the host Panthers 4-2, which was their first win against their conference rivals this season. With a spot in the championship on the line, the Ravens dropped a 4-2 decision to the Lady Railsplitters before sweeping through Adelphi eliminating them from the bracket.

Team captain Jessica Davies (Cape Coral, Fla.) led her squad with a 21.40 baker average over the three days of bowling. Sophomore Alexa Asta (Jackson, N.J.) totaled a 19.29, classmate Krysta Peirce (Casco, Mich.) chipped home an 18.90 and Skyler Mulligan-Brown (New Milford, Conn.) and Erin Mastropietro (Mechanicville, N.Y.) added 18.68 and 18.08 marks.

Day One – Friday

The Ravens stood in second place after going 4-1 while dropping a total of 4,846 pins (193.8 average) across their five baker games. Lincoln Memorial University held the top spot and was an unblemished 5-0 during day one as they knocked down only 37 more pins (4,883, 195.3 average) than the Crimson and Grey. Adelphi (4,577, 183.1 average) and Felician University (4,575, 183.0) rounded out the top-four and earned byes Friday afternoon for the beginning of the double-elimination bracket.

Davies led the Ravens in baker average with a 22.92 per frame mark. Peirce tallied a 19.96 mark while teammates Asta and Erin Mastropietro produced 18.98 and 18.22 averages respectively.

Franklin Pierce's only setback came at the hands of sixth place Molloy College (910-942) as the squad knocked off conference foes Saint Thomas Aquinas College (923-460), Wilmington University (Del.) (1,019-791), Kutztown University (990-825), and Chestnut Hill College (1,004-829).

They recorded 12 games over 200 with their highest frame of the day (227) coming in the match versus Kutztown. The team of Asta, Mastropietro, Jenna Harrington (Barneveld, N.Y.). Peirce and Davies also deposited 210 and 202 scores in the Raven victory.

Day Two – Saturday

Franklin Pierce was victorious in both matches versus Chestnut Hill (4-2) and Adelphi (4-2). The Crimson and Grey dropped the opening two games of the day against the Griffins before exploding for four straight wins to take the series. The grouping of Asta, Mastropietro, Mulligan-Brown, Peirce, and Davies totaled a 225 frame in the clincher.

Against Adelphi, Asta, Harrington, Mulligan-Brown, Peirce, and Davies earned the start and responded by rolling a day-best 237 during game four hold a 3-1 edge in the series. Adelphi won the next game by only one pin, but the Ravens responded with a 50-pin victory to continue their quest for the conference title.

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 women's bowling apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).