Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team had a slow start the first two weekends of the collegiate bowling season but they rebounded this past weekend to post a 9-1 mark against the conference's northern division teams and got solid play all around to post the best mark at the event.

 

With the wins, UMES improves to 22-11 on the season and the nation's top-ranked team moved into sole possession of second-place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Northern Division with a 16-4 MEAC mark.

 

Assistant Coach Doug Dukes coached the team in the absence of Head Coach Sharon Brummell who was fulfilling the school's obligation at the 2008 MEAC Volleyball Championship.

 

"We bowled much better, we learned some things about next weekend and got nine (9) much needed wins," said Dukes.

 

Those 'things' Dukes referred to is experience for the upcoming Eastern Shore Hawk

Classic, featuring many of the nation's top teams.  UMES will host that event this coming weekend, November 21-23 at their home alley of Millsboro Lanes.

 

"The nice part was being able to prepare for next weekend while still concentrating on

the all-important conference matches," Dukes added.

 

In those conference matches UMES looked sharp.  They opened day one with five straight wins in team games toppling Morgan State (948-786), Howard (938-743), No. 9 Delaware State (DSU) (1030-827), Hampton (949-795) and Coppin State (907-629).

 

Reigning MEAC Bowler of the Week Kristina Frahm posted a 1022 pin fall over five games.  She averaged a 204.4 and had a high game of 245 against rival DSU.  Frahm posted four of her five games on the day over 200 (202, 202, 245, 206) and probably could have gotten a fifth one had it not been for some experimentation on the part of Dukes.

 

"We wanted to try something with different angles and approaches," said Frahm.  "The good news is I spared a lot, I just didn't strike, but I think we figured out some important things."

 

All-American Maria Rodriguez was also on her game, tallying a 992 for a 198.4 average with a 225 against Morgan State, a 213 vs. DSU and a 210 against Hampton.

 

Senior Jamie Culbreth bowled very well as well, tallying a 953 pin fall for an average of 190.6 and a high game of 245 vs. the Hornets.  The senior co-captain knew it was important to make a statement against the team that sits in first place in the standings.

 

"I knew we had to bowl our best to beat them and when we do, we saw what we are capable of.  It was over a 200 pin difference," said Dukes.

 

In Baker matches UMES was still sharp, posting four wins on five tries.  The one loss, of course came to Delaware State.

 

The Lady Hawks opened with a 753-568 topping of Howard and then defeated Morgan State 745-651.  Hampton was knocked down 756-631 before DSU got a little revenge with a 788-704 win. That win kept UMES in second and put the Hornets in possession of first place in the league.

 

The Hawks closed out the day with a 689-493 win over Coppin State.

 

UMES now prepares to put the nation's top ranking on the line when they face off against

20 collegiate bowling teams, including 10 of the nation's top 20 in the Eastern Shore

Hawk Classic.  Action runs Friday through Sunday, November 21-23 at Millsboro Lanes, in Millsboro, Del.