Sam Houston knocks off four top 10 teams
1/30/2015 8:32:00 PM | Women's Bowling
The No. 5 ranked Sam Houston women's bowling team opened play at the Prairie View A&M Invitational Friday by winning four of their five dual matches with each of the victories coming over a nationally-ranked opponent.
The tournament is being played at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington. Nine of the top 10 teams in the country are participating in the event.
The Bearkats opened total pin quad baker play Friday with a 1,018-1,002 victory over No. 6 Vanderbilt. Next the SHSU women defeated No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson 1,064-1,047.
No. 4 Central Missouri handed Sam Houston its only loss of the day with a 1,020-968 result. The Kat bowlers closed out Friday with a 1,037-1,004 win over No. 10 North Carolina A&T and a 1,029-990 victory versus No. 8 Stephen F. Austin.
“Mentally, our heads were in it all day,” SHSU head coach Brad Hagen said. “We closed big frames when we needed them against some high quality opponents. This event is a gauntlet and we need to continue to put ourselves in situations to win, especially mentally.
Other nationally ranked teams in the tournament field include No. 1 Nebraska, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 9 Maryland-Eastern Shore and No. 15 Valparaiso.
Sam Houston now stand 62-27 for the season in dual match record play. The Bearkats are 40-25 against teams ranked among the top 20. The women evened their record against top 10 teams at 18-18 with Friday's action.
Sam Houston's top performances so far this year have included a team championship at the Tulane Invitational, runner-up finishes at the FDU Jersey Jamboree and the Crusader Classic and a third place at the UMES Hawk Classic.
The teams will compete in five traditional team matches on Saturday. Total pins from the first two days will determine the seeding for best-of-seven baker bracket play on Sunday.
Sam Houston results:
Friday - Total pin quad baker play
SHSU defeats #6 Vanderbilt 1,018-1,002
SHSU defeats #2 Fairleigh Dickinson 1,064-1047
#4 Central Missouri defeats SHSU 1,020-968
SHSU defeats #10 North Carolina A&T 1,037-1,004
SHSU defeats #8 Stephen F. Austin 1,029-990
