Women begin defense of NCAA crown Thursday
4/8/2015 4:16:00 PM | Women's Bowling
WATCH BEARKAT BOWLING NCAA PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
The Field: Defending NCAA champion Sam Houston joins a field that includes Nebraska, Fairleigh Dickinson, Arkansas State, Vanderbilt, Central Missouri, Stephen F. Austin and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The Defending Champions: Sam Houston went 3-0 in bracket play last April in Cleveland, defeating Maryland-Eastern Shore 4-2, Wisconsin-Whitewater 4-2 and Maryland-Eastern Shore 4-0 to reach finals. On championship night, the Kats took four out of six games from four-time champion Nebraska to hoist earn the national title.
The Bearkats in 2014-15: Sam Houston has compiled an overall record of 87 victorires and 42 losses in dual match play. That includes a 48-34 record against the teams in the current top 20.
The Basics: April 9-11 at the Tropicana Lanes in Richmond Heights, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. Thursday the eight teams selected to the 2015 finals begins the seeding for the bracket and continues on Friday morning. The double-elimination Baker games begin Friday afternoon. Rounds 3 and 4 of elimination continue Saturday morning with the title match Saturday night.
Daily Schedule differs from past: There are just two Baker rounds on Friday with two set for Saturday morning and the "if necessary" game would be Saturday afternoon should a team with one loss beat a 2-0 team in Round 3. In the past, all but the if-necessary game were played on Friday.
Thursday, April 9 (Seeding)
12:50 p.m. Block 1; 5 traditional games
Friday, April 10 (Seeding and elimination Baker games)
12:50 p.m. Block 2; 2 traditional games
3:30 p.m. Baker Round 1
5:20 p.m. Baker Round 2
Saturday, April 11 (Elimination games continue)
9:05 a.m. Baker Round 3
10:55 a.m. Baker Round 4
3:00 p.m. Baker Round 5 (if necessary)
7:00 p.m. Championship game
Television/webcast: The first four rounds and the `if necessary' game will all be live streamed on www.NCAA.com. The championship game will be televised live on ESPNU at 7:00 CDT. There will be a tape delayed telecast on ESPN Sunday from 3:00-5:00 CDT.
