Perez’s third performance of the young season was quite a charm. The veteran bowler posted a season-best 20.7 frame average, which led all Northeast Conference competitors, to power Fairleigh Dickinson to a runner-up finish at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawk Classic. In a tournament that welcomed 10 of the nation’s top-20 programs (according to the latest edition of the NTCA Poll), Perez started all of FDU’s 13 matches at the anchor position where she filled nearly 90 percent (89.86) of the 138 frames she bowled. Perez twice surpassed the 200-pin mark while posting the 12th-highest traditional average (190.0) of any individual, but the three-time All-American was even better during the baker play portion of the meet. She spearheaded FDU’s undefeated (4-0) showing on the tournament’s first day, which saw the Knights take down four nationally-ranked teams (UMES, Arkansas State, Morgan State, Valparaiso) in five-game baker matches. The following day, she bowled a 207 in a 917-894 traditional victory over NEC rival Kutztown and turned in a high game of 215 in a setback to No. 6 Delaware State. Two of Perez’s team-high 78 strikes on the weekend came in the 10th frame of FDU’s 273 baker game vs. No. 2 Vanderbilt, who went on to defeat the Knights, 4-1, in the best-of-seven championship match.