Bethune-Cookman in Fourth after First Day of Wildcat Invitational
DeLAND, Fla. -Bethune-Cookman's opening day total of 3,532 left the Wildcats bowling team in fourth place after the opening day of the Second Annual Wildcat Invitational at the Sunshine Bowling Center in DeLand, Fla. B-CU went 4-1 as a team in first day action.
The No. 18 Wildcats registered two non-conference wins against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (Prairie View A&M and Southern), one against a fellow MEAC team (Morgan State) and a day-concluding decision No. 15 Adelphi.
The lone setback was to No. 3 Farleigh-Dickinson, who finished the opening day leading the tournament with a pin count of 3,942 - sitting ahead of Sam Houston State (3,860) and Adelphi (3,563), respectively. However, Sam Houston State finished as the only team to post a perfect 5-0 mark against its competitors.
Keeping the open frames to a minimum, B-CU posted a 744 team score in the win over Southern and closed to 31 pins on Adelphi in the battle for third place in the day's final baker game.
Farleigh-Dickinson used an 839 in its fourth match of the day - bowling blind in one contest - to move past Sam Houston State, the day's only undefeated team, to take the lead in the all-important pin total.
B-CU Closes Second Day of Wildcat Invitational
DeLAND, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman improved its record to 8-2 on the weekend, but total pinfall count sits at just 7,848 and the Wildcats are in fifth place after the second day of the Second Annual Wildcat Invitational. B-CU is hosting the event at the Sunshine Bowling Center in nearby DeLand, Fla.
B-CU grabbed four more wins Saturday, taking a 4-1 record in the team portion of the event. Wins against Tulane, eighth-ranked Sam Houston State, Alabama State and Florida A&M highlighted the day for the Wildcats. The lone loss came to Monmouth in a match where head coach Tony O'Neal says the Cats did not bowl anywhere near their potential.
After the second day of action, No. 3 Fairleigh Dickinson sits atop the standings heading into Sunday's tournament bracket, followed by Sam Houston State and 15th-ranked Adelphi, respectively.
The top four teams - Farleigh-Dickinson (8,519), Sam Houston State (8,365), Adelphi (8,232) and Monmouth (7,943) return Sunday morning for Baker play to determine the tournament championship.
The day concluded with a rivalry match between the Rattlers and B-CU that was intense and highly competitive that saw B-CU erase a 50-pin deficit and take a 909-896 victory decided in the final frame.
FDU's Liat Vizenfield was the individual high roller on the day, finishing with an average of 202.4, followed by Adelphia teammates Katheryn Rivera (199) and Samantha Morlack (196.2). Dannielle McEwan (Fairleigh Dickinson), Kayln Grannis (Monmouth) and Roonesia Newson (Prairie View A&M) rounded out the top six bowlers who were all named to the all-tournament team.
Bethune-Cookman Finishes Fourth at Annual Home Invite
DeLAND, Fla. - The No. 18 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats took two-of-three matches Sunday, closing out the Second Annual Wildcat Invitational in fourth place in the team's second event of the 2012-13 season. The event was hosted by Bethune-Cookman at the Sunshine Bowling Center in DeLand, Fla.
On the weekend, B-CU claimed a record of 10-3 with just a single loss each day of the three-day event.
Bethune-Cookman opened the day claiming a 4-3 match victory from Alabama State in the first round of the day's tournament bracket. The Wildcats registered a pin count of 1,385-1,367.
After defeating ASU, Bethune-Cookman next faced off against Monmouth for a chance to advance to the third place match.
The Cats continued their hot rolling to down the Hawks in yet another 4-3 decision for B-CU. The pin count stood in favor of the Wildcats by a 1,155-1,086 tilt.
Stepping up on the weekend for the Wildcats was Crystiana Butler. Coach Tony O'Neal made sure to mention the junior from Patchogue, N.Y. following the tournament. He stated she was one of the players that really provided a spark for the team over the weekend.
In the third and final match of the day for the Cats, they were unable to keep momentum rolling as No. 15 Adelphi claimed third place on the weekend by virtue of a 4-0 decision. The Panthers won the match with a pin count total of 857-662.
The Panthers of Adelphi placed two players on the all-tournament team - Katheryn Rivera and Samantha Morlack.
Third-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson laid claim to the tournament title as they defeated No. 8 Sam Houston State by a 4-3 tilt in the final match. FDU's Liat Vizenfield was named as the Tournament MVP following Saturday's individual performances, while teammate Dannielle McEwan joined her on the all-tournament team.
Also earning all-tournament honors were Kayln Grannis of Monmouth and Roonesia Newson of Prairie View A&M.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
NSU Captures Hampton Roads Invite Title
CHESAPEAKE, Va. -Norfolk State came out on top after a long day of competition to win the Hampton Roads Invitational Saturday at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake.
The host Spartans defeated Virginia State, 4-0, to win the title in the bracket final match that did not end until around 8 at night. NSU finished the weekend with a 7-2 record, including 4-0 on Friday during the first day of play.
NSU also went 2-2 during team play earlier in the day on Saturday. The Spartans finished the first two rounds ahead of VSU as well as the rest of the field of Bowie State, North Carolina Central and Hampton to receive a bye into the final later that night.
Junior Thea Aspiras was named the tournament MVP after leading all bowlers with a 202.4 average. Sophomore Carrie Hickey also joined her on the all-tournament team after finishing second in the tournament to Aspiras with a 190.0 average.
Senior Jessica Overton and sophomore Delilah Bethel also bowled all five games Saturday in team play, with Overton finishing with a 181.8 average and Bethel at 180.8. Redshirt senior Sheila-Marie Smith rolled a 157.7 average in three games, while sophomore Kelsea Yarbrough bowled a 156.5 in the other two games.
The Spartans opened their season Friday with four straight victories in Baker play, beginning with a 721-565 win over Virginia State. NSU followed that up with wins over Hampton, 751-681, and North Carolina Central 758-605. After a bye, the Spartans ended the day with another win, 747-677 over Bowie State.
Then on Saturday morning, the Spartans got a bye to begin team play and came away with two more victories. NSU downed Hampton, 929-857, and topped Bowie State again, 934-700. Virginia State handed the Spartans their first loss of the season, 845-828, before N.C. Central also defeated NSU, 965-896.
After spending the next several hours waiting for two rounds of bracket play to finish, NSU took home the tournament crown with a 686-563 win over Virginia State.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com