The Delaware State University women's bowling team was 7-0 in Baker matches en route to the championship of the Fairleigh Dickinson "Fright Knight Invite" this past weekend. The event also marked the debut of new DSU head coach Ricki Williams-Ellison.
The Hornets defeated host Fairleigh Dickinson (4-games-to-2) in a Baker match semifinal, then knocked off Maryland-Eastern (4-2) in the championship series.
The tournament featured nine teams in the 2009-10 National Tenpins Coaches Association preseason Top 20 poll. The Hornets are ranked sixth in the poll. Fairleigh Dickinson is third, while Maryland-Eastern Shore is tied for fourth.
Delaware State opened the tournament with Baker wins over Long Island (641-524), No. 10 Kutztown (831-734), Florida A&M (719-624), No. 15 Morgan State (783-734) and Fairleigh Dickinson (884-724) on Friday.
The Hornets were 2-4 in traditional team games, defeating No. 8 New Jersey City (884-841) and Bethune-Cookman (893-758), but falling to No. 13 Adelphi (830-847), UMES (839-898), No. 16 Wisconsin-Whitewater (829-903) and No. 9 Sacred Heart (883-890).
DSU was 9-4 overall in the tournament.
In the individual standings, junior Angela Reynolds was 17th overall with a team-best 1073 total pinfall in six games (178.8 avg.). She also led the Hornets with a high-game of 202. Adriana Jaime was 37th overall with an 898 total pinfall (5 games). She had the team's best average (179.6) in the tournament. Kalyn Washburn had a 178.2 average and 891 total pinfall, highlighted by a top score of 201.
The Hornets begin MEAC competition with a North Division event in Hampton, Va., next weekend (Nov. 7-8). Delaware State captured its first MEAC Tournament and North Division championships last season.