Bridgewater, NJ -- As we usher in a new era of Northeast Conference (NEC) women’s bowling, the top of the preseason rankings looks oddly familiar.

Coming off two consecutive regular season titles, Duquesne was named the preseason favorite once again after bringing home three first-place votes in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
 

2024-25 NEC Women's Bowling Preseason Coaches Poll                      1. Duquesne (3)                      2. FDU (3)                      3. Mercyhurst                      4. (tied) Monmouth                          Niagara (1)                      6. Wagner                      7. LIU    First place votes in parentheses

FDU finished second in preseason voting, while also receiving three tallies for the top spot. NEC newcomer Mercyhurst claimed third, while returning conference member Monmouth tied with Niagara for fourth. The Purple Eagles took home the final first-place vote. Rounding out the poll was Wagner in sixth and LIU in seventh.

The Dukes return a loaded roster from a squad that climbed as high as 8th in the NTCA Poll  and ended last season ranked 10th. Under the leadership of two-time reigning NEC Coach of the Year Jody Fetterhoff, Duquesne begins its quest for the program’s first NEC Tournament title with three-time All-NEC honoree Shannon Small (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum) and 2024 NEC Rookie of the Year Maribeth Baker (York, PA/Pennridge) highlighting the lineup. Small, a fifth-year student-athlete who was named a first team NEC all-star in each of the last two years, posted a .836 filled frame percentage, which ranked fifth in the league in 2023-24. Baker compiled a 19.76 overall frame average, landing her sixth on the leaderboard, on her way to first team honors.

After an early exit from the 2024 conference tournament, the Dukes earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Duquesne would go onto advance to the Pittsburgh Regional final before falling to eventual national champion Jacksonville State.

Perennial powerhouse and five-time NEC champion FDU has its sights set on capturing its first conference crown since 2021. The Knights, who claimed the 18^th spot in the 2023-24 NTCA year-end poll, return senior Allysha Howard (Downey, CA/Downey), a two-time All-Conference selection, along with 2024 All-Rookie team honoree Amy Chrzanowski (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central). A three-time NEC Bowler of the Week last season, Howard led the league in both frame average (20.4) and strike percentage (.530). Chrzanowski took home three Rookie of the Week accolades in 2024.

Coming off back-to-back East Coast Conference (ECC) titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, the Lakers aim to make some noise in their first season as an NEC program. 2024 ECC Rookie of the Year and ECC Tournament Most Outstanding Bowler Delaney Rossette (Gahanna, OH/Gahannah Lincoln) returns to lead the Lakers in their debut NEC campaign.

After a three-year run in the NEC from 2010 to 2013, Monmouth rejoins the conference as an associate member after competing in the MEAC the last six years. The Hawks bring a history of success back to the NEC, having been ranked in the NTCA Top-25 year-end poll in six of the last eight seasons. 2024 MEAC Rookie of the Year Morgan Davis (North Richland Hills, TX/Birdville) highlights Monmouth’s roster along with All-MEAC third team selection Jenna Lehrer (Commack, NY/Commack).

Niagara ended its first season in the NEC ranked 23rd in the NTCA poll. The Eagles return seven of their nine letterwinners as they aim to make their first NEC postseason appearance.

The NEC showcased its strength in the sport of women’s bowling during the 2023-24 campaign by earning two bids in the NCAA Bowling Championship field. It marked the fourth straight year and seventh time since 2010 that the conference earned multiple bids, highlighting its competitiveness at the national level. Additionally, five NEC team earned a spot in the final NTCA Top-25 poll.

Entering 2024-25, three NEC teams were featured in the Preseason NTCA Top-25 rankings. Duquesne was slotted the highest in 10th, followed by FDU at 20th and Niagara at 25th. Both Mercyhurst and Monmouth received votes in the poll.

The 2025 NEC Women’s Bowling Tournament will take place from March 21-23 at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton, NJ. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the conference tournament will be held at the central New Jersey facility. The top-four teams from the league’s standings after the NEC’s three conference meets will qualify for the postseason.
 
About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.