Sam Houston No. 7 in February NTCA Poll
2/11/2015 1:39:00 PM | Women's Bowling
Sam Houston is ranked seventh in the February National Tenpin Coaches Association after compiling a 66-31 won-loss record during their seven tournaments this season.
The top four teams in the rankings remain the same as in the December NTCA poll with Nebraska (56-12) at No. 1 followed by Fairleigh Dickinson (66-14), Arkansas State (68-27) and Central Missouri (56-27).
Stephen F. Austin moved into the No. 5 spot with a 64-29 dual match record. Vanderbilt (64-33) stands No. 6 followed by Sam Houston (64-31), Maryland-Eastern Shore (62-26), Wisconsin-Whitewater (44-23) and North Carolina A&T (53-33).
The Bearkats own a 19-20 record this season against the current top 10 teams. The SHSU women are 38-25 overall against squads in the top 20.
Sam Houston's top performances so far 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.
Rounding out the top 20 are McKendree at No. 11 followed by Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (Pa), Saint Francis Brooklyn, LIU-Brooklyn, Alabama-Birmingham, Valparaiso, Kutztown, Norfolk State and Delaware State.
Sam Houston will have the opportunity to play 10 of the top 20 teams in the NCTA poll in their next event as the Bearkats head to Palace Lanes in Houston to play in the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack Classic this Friday through Sunday.
The new NTCA top 20:
| 1 | Nebraska | 56 | 12 | 735 |
| 2 | Fairleigh-Dickinson | 66 | 14 | 729 |
| 3 | Arkansas State | 68 | 27 | 634 |
| 4 | Central Missouri | 56 | 27 | 608 |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 64 | 29 | 526 |
| 6 | Vanderbilt | 64 | 33 | 460 |
| 7 | SAM HOUSTON | 64 | 29 | 458 |
| 8 | Maryland-Eastern Shore | 62 | 26 | 446 |
| 9 | Wisconsin-Whitewater | 44 | 23 | 380 |
| 10 | North Carolina A&T | 53 | 33 | 316 |
| 11 | McKendree | 34 | 22 | 254 |
| 12 | Sacred Heart | 43 | 23 | 217 |
| 13 | Saint Francis (Penn) | 50 | 31 | 174 |
| 14 | Saint Francis Brooklyn | 47 | 29 | 159 |
| 15 | LIU-Brooklyn | 40 | 32 | 121 |
| 16 | Alabama-Birmingham | 43 | 24 | 98 |
| 17 | Valparaiso | 38 | 44 | 83 |
| 18 | Kutztown | 47 | 35 | 80 |
| 19 | Norfolk State | 52 | 29 | 75 |
| 20 | Delaware State | 48 | 40 | 52 |
