COLONIA, N.J. – The target is on their backs once again. After capturing the 2025 ECC Championship, the Kutztown Golden Bears enter the new season as the team to beat, earning the No. 1 spot in the ECC Women’s Bowling Preseason Poll. Hot on their heels are the Bryant Bulldogs, who not only claimed second in the poll but also feature the league’s Preseason Bowler of the Year, senior Laura Clark.
Clark has been one of the ECC’s most consistent performers throughout her career, and the Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., native is poised for a memorable final season. A two-time All-ECC First Team honoree, she ranked third in the league last year in Player Composite Performance Index (PCPI) at 85.48% and placed inside the top five in 13 major statistical categories, including overall scoring average. Clark’s versatility and scoring power make her the centerpiece of Bryant’s championship aspirations.
Meanwhile, defending champion Kutztown looks every bit the powerhouse it was a year ago. The Golden Bears collected 77 points and six first-place votes in the poll after a season in which they finished 64-45 overall and knocked off nine nationally ranked opponents. Their postseason run was highlighted by a victory over Fayetteville State in the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Opening Round, solidifying their place among the nation’s best. Kutztown also showcased incredible balance last season, placing at least one athlete in the top three of every major statistical category.
Bryant sits firmly in second with 72 points and two first-place votes. The Bulldogs went 41-56 last year, finishing third at the ECC Championship before falling to eventual champion Kutztown. While Clark is their headliner, Bryant’s depth is equally impressive, as the Bulldogs consistently ranked among the ECC’s best across statistical categories and remain a legitimate title contender.
The next wave of challengers includes Roberts Wesleyan and Molloy. The Redhawks picked up the final first-place vote and 60 points in the poll after an impressive 44-33 campaign that ended as ECC runner-ups. Molloy followed in fourth with 54 points, coming off a 39-56 season that featured a statement win over nationally ranked No. 18 Maryland Eastern Shore before advancing to the ECC semifinals.
The middle of the pack features a tie for fifth between Adelphi and Saint Anselm, each earning 35 points, while D’Youville (29 points) and Daemen (28) closely follow in seventh and eighth. St. Thomas Aquinas rounds out the poll in ninth with 15 points.
2025-26 ECC Women’s Bowling Preseason Poll
1. Kutztown - 77 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Bryant - 72 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Roberts Wesleyan - 60 points (1 first-place vote)
4. Molloy - 54 points
T-5. Adelphi - 35 points
T-5. Saint Anselm - 35 points
7. D’Youville - 29 points
8. Daemen - 28 points
9. Saint Thomas Aquinas - 15 points