Bearkats win 9 of 13 matches in New Jersey
11/3/2013 4:33:00 PM | Women's Bowling
The No. 6 ranked Sam Houston women's bowling team ended up 9-4 for the weekend after splitting matches Sunday in best-of-seven baker bracket play.
The SHSU bowlers finished seventh in the final team stamdings. Stephen F. Austin was the tournament champion. Wisconsin-Whitewater was the runner-up followed by host Fairleigh Dickinson, Arkansas State, Kutztown, Vanderbilt, Sam Houston, Sacred Heart, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Adelphi.
Valparaiso placed 10th, followed by LIU-Brooklyn, Monmouth, Prairie View A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Salem International, New Jersey City and Cheyney.
The Bearkats took on Vanderbilt in the No. 6 vs. No. 7 slot in their first match Sunday. Vandy won in six games, 182-161 190-166 167-181 173-175 214-206 200-172.
Sam Houston rallied to defeat Sacred Heart, loser in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 playoff, in six games with a 165-205 180-184 191-170 179-166 180-178 209-202.
"Today was another day in the life of the learning curve,” SHSU head coach Brad Hagen. “I'm proud of the team for battling through adversity, tough conditions, then bouncing back to win four straight games to win our last set which was huge moving forward. We made the best out of a very tough weekend and to skate out 9-4 respectably I am pleased with that. We still have to build up our shot making trust and confidence but we are heading in the right direction."
The Kats stood in seventh place in the total pins standings going into Sunday's action with a 9,382 total after compiling an 8-3 record. Arkansas State, host Fairleigh Dickinson and Stephen F. Austin were the top three teams in bracket play.
Sam Houston went 4-2 in traditional team play Saturday. Sam Houston opened with a 916-912 victory over Monmouth.
Arkansas State defeated the Bearkats 917-902. The SHSU women got on a roll, knocking off Kutztownw 917-902, Cheyney 949-607 and Prairie View 943-885 before falling in their final match of the day to Long Island 1007-948.
"4-2 was respectable Saturday but we were not happy,” Hagen said. “We got a lot of good breaks we didn't take advantage of and left a ton of pins out there. We need to trust in our shot making ability more and fill frames. We're giving too much away right now. Sundays a new day to make a statement and the quality wins were looking for."
Friday in quad baker action the Bearkats went 4-1. Three of the four victories came over top 20 teams.
Tournament host and No. 7 ranked Fairleigh Dickson started the Kats' day with a 765-717 loss.
But Sam Houston roared back with a 780-684 victory over Delaware. The Bearkats followed that by defeating No. 18 New Jersey City 776-427, No. 8 Wisconsin-Whitewater 776-744 and No. 13 Sacred Heart 704-669.
The Bearkats stand in sixth place in the tournament's total pin standings after a day of play.
No. 9 ranked Stephen F. Austin leads with 3,939 total pins. No. 4 Arkansas State is second with 3,931 pins followed by No. 7 Fairleigh Dickinson 3.926, No. 8 Wisconsin-Whitewater 3,790, No. 2 Vanderbilt 3,769 and No. 6 Sam Houston 3,753.
"Overall, Friday was a relatively good day but we need to get out of the gates more solidly and take advantage of our breaks,” Hagen said. “We're definitely a strong closing team with resiliency but we need to learn to win from the beginning. This team has all the tools to be successful but we have to stay in the moment, stay focused and make competitive shots."
The tournament ends Sunday with best-of-seven bracket play.
The Bearkats were one of 15 top 20-ranked squads competing in the Fairleigh Dickinson New Jersey Jamboree at Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.
