Kats first after Day 1 at NCAA Championship
4/14/2016 11:10:00 AM | Women's Bowling
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- On the opening day of the NCAA Championship, the Bearkats came out and made a statement. The Kats finished day 1 with a 4-1 record and currently stand in first place with two more qualifying matches remaining.
It is the best start to the national championship in five appearances for the Bearkats.
“We just came out and were resilient and made big shots all day when we needed them,” said head coach Brad Hagen. “We were able to use some of the information from practice yesterday with the pattern and apply it, and that helped up get out to the big start.
Sam Houston opened Thursday's qualifying round with a match up against rival SFA and senior Anna Groce got the Kats going early. The senior competing in the finals for the fourth time, closed with five straight strikes to lead SHSU to an opening match 39-pin win against SFA.
They followed that up with a 23-pin victory over No. 1-seed and defending national champions Nebraska. It was against the Cornhuskers that All-American Janine Kuwahara got going, the junior bowled the high game of the day for the Bearkats with a 264.
“It was important for us to get out to a good start,” Kuwahara said. “I think for me I got on a little bit of a run against Nebraska and really felt good all day.”
The Kats saved their grittiest win for the last. A disastrous 8th frame looked to bury the Kats against the No. 8-seed North Carolina A&T after the first four bowlers failed to pick up spares leaving the frames open.
But Heather Penatzer closed with a strike in the 8th to steady the ship. Still with some work to do, the Kats started hitting strikes and overcame a 43-pin deficit to start the 10th frame for a 3-pin win over the Aggies.
“I think that was a big shot from Heather the close out the 8th,” Hagen said. “We had left four open and just needed a big one there to stop it from continuing. We knew we weren't mathematically out of it and just continued to make shots, which is kind of what we did all day.”
Kuwahara was a big part of that, closing with four strikes in the 9th and 10th frames.
“Finishing the day with a win like that will be a confidence boost for us,” Kuwahara said. “We never gave up and the teams knows we can come back no matter what.”
Kuwahara finished the day with a 226.8 average in five games, which is currently tied for the second-best mark of the championship. Stephanie Zavala finished the day with a 211.2, Anna Groce was at 206.6 and Penatzer closed the day with a 201.8 average.
The Kats stand in first with two matches left in qualifying play. They will play No. 7 Central Missouri on Friday morning and then close out the first round with No. 3 Vanderbilt. The double-elimination bracket round will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Day 1 Recaps
Game 1 vs No. 5 SFA
Won 1042-1003
Anna Groce started the 2016 NCAA Championships with a strike and never slowed down. The senior competing in the finals for the fourth time, closed with five straight strikes to lead SHSU to an opening match win against SFA.
After a hot start by SFA, the Kats responded with seven straight strikes over the second and third frames. After an SFA Charge midway through the match, the Kats answered with four strikes in the ninth frame.
Groce led the Kats with a 226, as four bowlers topped 200 in the rivalry match. Erin Brown rolled three straight strikes from the fifth to seventh frames to finish with a 211. Stephanie Zavala used four straight strikes from the second to the fifth to finish with a 208. Janine Kuwahara rolled a 203.
It's the first time since 2013 the Kats have won the opening match of the NCAA Championship.
Game 2 vs No. 1 Nebraska
Won 1082-1059
The Bearkats knocked off the defending national champs and top-seeded Nebraska 1082-1059 to start the championship 2-0.
Kuwahara hit seven straight strikes from the fifth to the 10th frames on her way to a match high 264. Three Kats topped the 200 mark with Groce and Zavala each rolling a 222.
The Kats once again got off to a good start, striking seven straight times from the second to third frames and built a lead they held throughout the match. Nebraska made a late charge in the 10th, but Heather Penatzer started the 10th with a strike, capping a stretch of three straight for her to seal the win.
Game 3 vs. No. 6 McKendree
Lost 1010-942
The Kats couldn't overcome a slow starts and didn't get strikes late when they needed them in a loss to championship newcomers McKendree.
The match was tight throughout, with Sam Houston picking up momentum in the middle frames. Groce and Zavala each had three straight strikes from the fourth to the sixth frames and Kuwahara hit her fourth straight in the sixth frame.
But the Kats couldn't string anything together late, ultimately falling by 68 pins.
Zavala led the way with a 210 and Kuwahara also topped 200 with a 201.
Game 4 vs No. 2 Arkansas State
Won 1104-1034
The Bearkats had their biggest pinfall of the championship so far, knocking down 1104 in a 70 pin victory over No. 2-seed Arkansas State.
The Bearkats sealed it with a huge 10th frame hitting eight straight strikes, including all three in the 10th from both Zavala and Kuwahara, who closed with six consecutive strikes.
Penatzer led the way for the Kats with a 247, her best mark of the afternoon. Kuwahara finished at 239 and Zavala was at 228.
Carrie Hopkinson had a strong run of four straight strikes to finish with a 195, bowling in just her second game of the day.
Game 5 vs. No. 8 NCA&T
Won 1009-1006
The Bearkat dug themselves a hole late, but rallied to knock off North Carolina A&T and finish the day at 4-1.
The 8th frame looked to be the Kats undoing, after they left four open frames before Penatzer closed with a strike. The Kats used that momentum to carry them through the 10th, where they overcame a 43-pin disadvantage.
Zavala connected for three strikes in the 10th as did Kuwahara. Penatzer then closed it out with a pair of strikes and then a nine to seal the win.
Kuwahara bowled a 227 to lead the way and Penatzer finished with a 211. Freshman Madysen Keller competed for the first time in the day and rolled a 192.
The 4-1 start is the best for the Bearkats in five appearances in the national finals.
Unfolding in New Jersey for the second time in event history, and hosted by the Somerset-headquartered Northeast Conference, the 2016 NCAA Championship will play out over three days. Nebraska looks to defend the NCAA title it won last April in St. Louis. The Huskers, who fell to Fairleigh Dickinson in the 2010 championship final at Carolier Lanes, own a record five national crowns.
After two more rounds of preliminary round play on Friday morning, the tournament format will move to double-elimination championship bracket play in the afternoon. The results from preliminary round competition will determine the bracket's seeding.
The 2016 NCAA Championship Final is set for Saturday, April 16 at 6:30 pm ET and will air live on ESPNU.
Preliminary Round Records (thru 5 matches):
Sam Houston State (4-1)
Nebraska (3-2)
Arkansas State (3-2)
Vanderbilt (3-2)
McKendree (2-3)
Central Missouri (2-3)
North Carolina A&t (2-3)
Stephen F. Austin (1-4)
NCAA WOMEN'S BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES (since 2004):
Nebraska - 5
UMES - 3
Fairleigh Dickinson - 2
Sam Houston State - 1
Vanderbilt - 1
Thursday's schedule
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Round 1 |
11:50 p.m. CST |
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Game No. |
Opponent |
Lane Assignment |
Live Stream |
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Game 1 |
No. 5 SFA |
Lanes 77-78 |
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Game 2 |
No. 1 Nebraska |
Lanes 63-64 |
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Game 3 |
No. 6 McKendree |
Lanes 53-54 |
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Game 4 |
No. 2 Arkansas St. |
Lanes 68-70 |
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Game 5 |
No. 8 North Carolina A&T |
Lanes 53-54 |
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Round 2 |
Friday, 9:50 a.m. CST |
