After nearly 30 days off, the Lady Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) returned to the lanes in fine fashion, quickly brushing off the rust and bowling like the nation's top team.  UMES posted a 12-3 mark, the second best at the event and improved their overall record to 58-18.  The event also marked the debut of brand new Hawk, Paula Vilas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), a freshmen sensation and member of the Dominican Republic National Team.

UMES posted a 4 -1 record each day of the event and posting big wins over third ranked Nebraska, 11th ranked Alabama A&M, fourth-ranked Central Missouri and 10th ranked Minnesota State.  Vilas tallied a 935 individually on day two of the event with an average of 187 in her Hawk debut.

Kristina Frahm was the star of the show once again for UMES.  Last season's National Rookie of the Year posted a pin fall of 998 and an average of over a 199.  She had the fourth highest average at the event, and the highest of any non-Vanderbilt bowler.  Those numbers earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Also bowling well individually on day two was Martha Perez (Bogota, Colombia) who posted a 931 pin fall for an average of over a 186.

On that day UMES posted wins over Grambling State (929-888), Alabama State (942-828), Texas Southern (860-706) and Louisiana Tech (942-825).  They dropped a tough 858-897 loss to #5 Arkansas State, the team UMES Defeated for the NCAA title last April.

UMES posted seven individual games over 200.  Frahm with three, a 224 against Grambling State and two 213s vs. Texas Southern and Louisiana Tech.  Perez posted two, a 215 and a 200 while Vilas rolled a 208 and a 211.

In Baker games the Hawks were again solid.  On the opening day they topped #11 Alabama A&M (891-849), Bethune-Cookman (881-782), Fontbonne (881-642), and a huge win over #3 Nebraska (980-971).  Nebraska only posted two losses in the entire tournament, one of which came to the Hawks.  UMES also suffered a loss that day to #4 Central Missouri 846-919.

On the final day UMES rolled through their first four opponents, topping Grand Canyon(788-600), Arkansas Pine-Bluff (760-418), #4 Central Missouri (772-766) and #10 Minnesota State (818-736).  They dropped their final match of the event to rival Vanderbilt, 663-846.

UMES keeps the balls rolling this weekend when they head to the Lady Bulldog Classic in Bowie, Md. on January 24th and 25th.