Bowlers No. 4 In March Rankings
3/15/2016 1:23:00 PM | Women's Bowling
There's a new number one team in the country and several teams jockeyed around to other positions, but Sam Houston remains No. 4 in the March national intercollegiate rankings from the National Ten Pins Coaches Assocation (NTCA).
Defending national champion Nebraska has replaced Arkansas State at the top of the ladder. Arkansas State dropped to two and Vanderbilt is No. 3 ahead of the No. 4 Bearkats.
Stephen F. Austin moved up to No. 5. The Lumberjacks are followed by No. 6 Central Missouri, No. 7 McKendree, No. 8 North Carolina A&T, No. 9 Fairleigh Dickinson and No. 10 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Vanderbilt (88 victories), Sam Houston (83) and Nebraska (80) top all teams in dual match wins so far this season. The Bearkats head to the Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tennessee, this weekend and finish the schedule with the Southland Bowling Conference tournament in Tulane March 25-26
Then it's NCAA selection time with eight programs earning a berth in the Elite Eight tournament in April in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
Sam Houston's 85-37 overall dual match record includes 14 victories over top 10 ranked opponents. The Kats are 58-30 against teams ranked among the top 25.
The Sam women have been putting up some strong numbers in traditional team play with Heather Penatzer averaging 205.79 pins, Janine Kuwahara 205.18, Anna Groce 201.62 and Carrie Hopkinson 201.18.
Randi Speiler posted a new individual high game record of 289 in the Kats' most recent tournament, the Hawk Invitational. The Kats combined for a new five-game baker record of 1180.
THE MARCH NTCA NATIONAL WOMEN'S BOWLING RANKINGS
| Rank | Team | Won | Lost | Points |
| 1 | Nebraska | 80 | 28 | 973 |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 65 | 26 | 919 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 88 | 30 | 900 |
| 4 | SAM HOUSTON | 83 | 37 | 825 |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 68 | 35 | 743 |
| 6 | Central Missouri | 56 | 32 | 710 |
| 7 | McKendree | 47 | 29 | 655 |
| 8 | North Carolina A&T | 67 | 28 | 607 |
| 9 | Fairleigh Dickinson | 64 | 27 | 589 |
| 10 | Wisconsin-Whitewater | 52 | 39 | 565 |
| 11 | Maryland-Eastern Shore | 53 | 34 | 457 |
| 12 | LIU-Brooklyn | 57 | 41 | 405 |
| 13 | Delaware State | 49 | 25 | 393 |
| 14 | St. Francis (Pa.) | 45 | 33 | 326 |
| 15 | Kutztown | 63 | 40 | 265 |
| 16 | Sacred Heart | 44 | 31 | 217 |
| 17 | Monmouth | 46 | 47 | 195 |
| 18 | St. Francis (NY) | 60 | 50 | 183 |
| 19 | Tulane | 45 | 48 | 158 |
| 20 | Norfolk State | 39 | 27 | 146 |
| 21 | Adelphi | 35 | 39 | 127 |
| 22 | Valparaiso | 37 | 51 | 107 |
| 23 | Elmhurst | 17 | 9 | 104 |
| 24 | Prairie View A&M | 45 | 42 | 69 |
| 25 | Jackson State | 38 | 41 | 23 |
