DeLAND, Fla. – Picking up a pair of wins in Traditional games on Saturday, Bethune-Cookman moved to second place in the field at the 2016 Wildcat Invitational at Sunshine Bowling Center in DeLand, Florida. The five team field includes host B-CU, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Florida A&M and Sacred Heart.
Saturday’s action included four head-to-head Traditional games, as well as a “blind” game where teams bowled against no competition for total pin count in the overall standings.
The Wildcats began the day falling in a closely contested matchup against Alabama State. The Hornets secured the win with a 913-890 decision. However, B-CU was led by junior Ivory Miles in the game, sporting a 197 score for the Maroon and Gold.
The Cats bounced back fast behind the strong play of freshman Jasmine April and Miles, as the duo helped B-CU take down fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Florida A&M, 908-885. April, a graduate of Atlantic High in Port Orange, Florida, netted a 214 game, while Miles tallied a 201 game of her own.
In the third game, it was Amyre Tensley stepping up for the Cats, as she registered one of her two (2) 200-game efforts of the day with a 213, helping push Bethune-Cookman up a spot to third place in the overall pin count. The Cats bowled blind against no competition, but stepped up in total pins, as senior Rebecca Goodwin – also an Atlantic High alum in Port Orange, pushed into the 200-scoring for the first time on the day with a 201 game.
Prior to the day’s festivities, Goodwin, along with all other seniors from each participating team, was honored for their services at their respective schools across their careers. B-CU Associate Athletic Director Robert “Tony” O’Neal and B-CU Bowling head coach Charles Thomas helped honor each senior with a commemorative plaque and certificate of appreciation.
In the fourth game of the day – the third head-to-head contest for the Maroon and Gold, B-CU amassed one of its highest team scores of the day against Sacred Heart, but fell in the end with a 1,035-921 effort. In the contest, Goodwin once again topped 200, carrying a 210 in the loss. April followed with a strong 191 game of her own.
In the day’s final game, B-CU took down Alabama A&M, 953-746. Three Wildcats closed strongly, B-CU’s as Tensley (217), junior Krysta Coleman (212) and April (206) all topped 200-scoring.
Courtney McGinn of Sacred Heart led all individuals in average for the day, earning a place on the all-tournament team, set to be announced Sunday following the day’s final match. McGinn held a 199 average across five games, followed by FAMU’s Jenna Naclerio (195.2), B-CU’s Goodwin (194.2) and April (192), as well as Sacred Heart’s Lauren Hoffman (188.8) and the Rattlers Michele Harper (188.2) to round out the top six team members.
The invitational concludes Sunday with a tournament beginning at 9:30 a.m. The tournament, consisting of Best 4-of-7 Baker matches, will determine the champion.