BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn bowling junior Lauren McKowen was named the Northeast Conference Bowler of the week, it was announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.

McKowen opened her second season as a Blackbird by posting the highest overall frame average (20.67) of all Northeast Conference players who contested Kutztown's Bud Whitman Memorial Invitational. The 5-foot-4 junior, who began her collegiate career competing for Central Missouri, was productive during both the baker and traditional portions of the two-day event. Filling frames at an .875 clip, McKowen threw 39 strikes in 80 attempts (.488) and converted all but two of her 18 single-pin spare attempts. The Michigan product averaged 19.86 pins per baker frame as the Blackbirds went an undefeated 5-0 during Saturday's match schedule. She was even more effective during Sunday's traditional match play, making great use of her strike ball. Striking on 56.0 percent of her chances, McKowen posted a 211.4 traditional game average over the course of five matches. She filled the 10th frame in all five games and twice exceeded the 230-pin mark. McKowen's 254 high game powered LIU Brooklyn past Chestnut Hill and her 235-pin performance led the way in a win over Virginia State. She earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team (Traditional) for her efforts.

Her teammates Kristina Genova and Madison Lukosius earned NEC Prime Performer highlights for their efforts as well this weekend. Genova posted a tournament-high 21.83 baker frame average at Kutztown, and was named the Tournament MVP (Baker), and Lukosius earned spot on the Kutztown All-Tournament Team (Baker) after averaging 20.83 pins per baker frame.

Up next, the Blackbirds take part in the FDU Jammboree, October 28-30.