Bowlers win first intercollegiate tournament
2/6/2011 6:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
The Sam Houston women's bowling team, playing in its inaugural season, picked up its first intercollegiate tournament championship trophy this past weekend in Florida.
The Bearkats defeated Prairie View A&M in the tournament finals 4-2 in best four of seven baker match play. Sam Houston led all NCAA Division I squads in the event in total pins.
"It was exciting to have an all-Texas final Sunday," Sam Houston head coach Brad Hagen said. "It was a whirlwind weekend. I'm proud of the way the girls hung in and made the shots we had to make to come through with victories."
The Bearkats won six of their eight matches in the first two days of action and led the event in total pins.
Friday, in NCAA four-game baker play, the Bearkats lost to Jackson State 855-758, defeated Prairie View A&M 674-629, lost to Alabama State 669-643 and bounced back to defeat Florida A&M 763-685. The Kats also lost to non-NCAA participant Florida State 732-654.
Saturday, in traditional team action, the Bearkats went 4-0 against the tournament's NCAA Division I opponents. Sam Houston defeated Prairie View 918-916, Jackson State 873-785, Alabama State 868-800 and Florida A&M 825-801. Florida State defeated SHSU 908-803 in a non-NCAA matchup.
Aida Sanchez led the Bearkats in traditional team play with a 191.0 average. Other Bearkat averages included Dayna Galganski 189.5, Shaina Woolbaugh 176.0, Lisa MacAllister 171.3, Lisa Cummins 162.0, Kimi Davidson 159.0 and Neishka Cardona 157.0.
In Sunday's finals, the Bearkats knocked off Prairie View in six games, then handed Alabama State a loss in five games before earning the championship trophy with another victory over the Panthers.
Sam Houston currently ranks No. 5 in the nation. The Bearkat women's bowling squad has started its first season making a big splash nationally. Sam Houston now owns a 49-26 overall record and has posted victories over both teams that have held the No. 1 spot in the national ranking - defending NCAA champion Fairleigh Dickinson (the No. 1 team in the 2011 preseason poll) and current No. 1 Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Sam Houston has defeated every team listed among the NCAA's top 10 at least once this season.
Next action for the Sam Houston women's bowling team will be the Holiday Classic in Bessemer, Ala., beginning Feb. 25
