MEAC Media Relations

Hornets Seeded Seventh In NCAA Bowling Tourney

Delaware State will be the No. 7 seed when bracket play begins Friday in the 2009 NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship. The Hornets will face No. 2 seed New Jersey City in a best-of-seven Baker match in the opening round of the double-elimination bracket play.

Delaware State finished seventh of the eight teams in today’s qualifying round, which featured four regular team games and five Baker contests. The Hornets totaled 7729 during the qualifying round, more than 600 pins behind No. 1 Nebraska. Defending national champ Maryland Eastern Shore was third after the qualifying matches.

“We got off to a slow start, but improved throughout the day,” said Delaware State head coach Kim Terrell-Kearney, who has led the Hornets to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in team history this season. “I don’t attribute the slow start today to NCAA Tournament jitters. We had a few sluggish opening rounds this season, but always bounced back the next day. Our Baker play has been solid throughout the season, so I’m expecting us to come out strong tomorrow.”

Delaware State and New Jersey City has met 11 times during the 2008-09 season. The Hornets hold a 9-2 edge over the Gothic Knights this season, including a 5-0 mark in Baker games.

During today’s regular team games, Jazmyne Hefflefinger led Delaware State with a total pinfall of 836 in four games (209.0 avg.). She also had the Hornets’ top single game of 255.

The NCAA Tournament championship match is set for Saturday (Apr. 11) at 8 p.m. The final will be televised live on ESPNU. A re-broadcast of the championship match is scheduled for Monday (Apr. 13) at 7 p.m.