SHSU finishes second at Arkansas State
1/19/2014 2:44:00 PM | Women's Bowling
Sam Houston earned a runner-up finish at the Mid-Winter Invitational in Jonesboro, Ark., Sunday afternoon with victories over two top 10 nationally-ranked opponents.
Seeded No. 4 in baker best-of-seven bracket play, the No. 10-ranked Bearkats defeated both No. 3 Central Missouri and No. 6 Nebraska to reach the finals against host and No. 1 ranked Arkansas State.
The Kats topped the UCM Mules in four games 234-171, 171-146, 188-172, 194-154) and held off a rally by the Cornhuskers in six 235-205, 193-178, 226-203, 186-236, 182-227, 172-168.
The Red Wolves avenged a Saturday tradition team loss to Sam Houston in the finals, winning 202-128, 205-188, 228-214, 204-171.
Sunday's play gave the Bearkats a 7-5 mark for the tournament. Along with the win over No. 1 ASU, Sam Houston also posted victories over No. 8 Vanderbilt and No. 14 Valparaiso at the event.
Scores in tradition team play Saturday for SHSU included a 1,007-959 win over Arkansas State and the 1,058-1039 victory over Valparaiso. The Kats lost to No. 19 McKendree 1,038-970 and Nebraska 1,079-986.
Anna Groce led the Kats with 1,072 pins in five rounds in Saturday's traditional team play. Groce posted the third highest individual pin fall total. Neishka Cardona stood 18th in the individual standings with 1,006 pins.
A 1,029-886 victory over No. 8 Vanderbilt highlighted action Friday at the Mid-Winter Invitational in quad baker play. The Kats also defeated unranked Tulane 973-880 and Alabama-Birmingham 1044-886.
In their opening match Friday, Sam Houston fell 1,058-1,006 to No. 3 Central Missouri. In the final contest of the afternoon, No. 5 Stephen F. Austin handed SHSU a 1,001-909 loss.
Sam Houston now stands 51-26 in dual match play for the season.
During the fall, the Kats won the team championship at the Hornet Invitational in Montgomery and were the runner-up in their season opener at Tulane.
