Kats earn top seed at Louisiana Tech
11/7/2020 9:39:00 PM | Women's Bowling
The Sam Houston Bearkats will head into Sunday's play at the La Tech Invitational with a chance to claim their first title of the season.Â
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The Kats finished Saturday with a 261 pin advantage on the seven-team field and will enter bracket play as the No. 1 seed. They will face SFA in the opening round of the championship bracket. It will be the third meeting between the two rivals this weekend.
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The Kats were unbeaten Saturday, winning all four matches. After posting a 1-2 mark on Friday, they bounced back strong, twice topping the 1,100 pin mark in wins over Tulane and SFA. They also notched wins over UAB and a second win over SFA.
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"I thought we made some great adjustments throughout the day and were really able to build our confidence," said head coach Brad Hagen. "Especially in the last match of the day against SFA, some ball changes, moves, and confident shot making made a huge difference for everyone."
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The Kats were led individually by Denise Blankenzee who was stellar in second day to compete as a collegiate bowler. She topped 200 in all four games on Saturday and led the field with an average of 226. Her average was 12 pins better than the second-best score from Saturday. She was consistent from beginning to end on Saturday with a low score of 221 and a high of 233.Â
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"That first tournament for a freshman is always tough, and she did a great job of settling her nerves today," Hagen said. "She was able to get back into her comfort zone with traditional games and her scores reflect that."
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Bea Hernandez sits in third in the overall individual standings with an average over 209. She saved her best for last, closing the day with a 247 against SFA. Hayley Connelly's 201 puts her in seventh. Hernandez's 247 was joint tops on the day for the Bearkats with Elise Chambers who bowled her top game in the opening match of the day in the win against Tulane.
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The Kats will face the fourth seeded Lumberjacks Sunday. They will then face either No. 2 Louisiana Tech or the three-seed Vanderbilt.Â
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The Kats finished Saturday with a 261 pin advantage on the seven-team field and will enter bracket play as the No. 1 seed. They will face SFA in the opening round of the championship bracket. It will be the third meeting between the two rivals this weekend.
Â
The Kats were unbeaten Saturday, winning all four matches. After posting a 1-2 mark on Friday, they bounced back strong, twice topping the 1,100 pin mark in wins over Tulane and SFA. They also notched wins over UAB and a second win over SFA.
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"I thought we made some great adjustments throughout the day and were really able to build our confidence," said head coach Brad Hagen. "Especially in the last match of the day against SFA, some ball changes, moves, and confident shot making made a huge difference for everyone."
Â
The Kats were led individually by Denise Blankenzee who was stellar in second day to compete as a collegiate bowler. She topped 200 in all four games on Saturday and led the field with an average of 226. Her average was 12 pins better than the second-best score from Saturday. She was consistent from beginning to end on Saturday with a low score of 221 and a high of 233.Â
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"That first tournament for a freshman is always tough, and she did a great job of settling her nerves today," Hagen said. "She was able to get back into her comfort zone with traditional games and her scores reflect that."
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Bea Hernandez sits in third in the overall individual standings with an average over 209. She saved her best for last, closing the day with a 247 against SFA. Hayley Connelly's 201 puts her in seventh. Hernandez's 247 was joint tops on the day for the Bearkats with Elise Chambers who bowled her top game in the opening match of the day in the win against Tulane.
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The Kats will face the fourth seeded Lumberjacks Sunday. They will then face either No. 2 Louisiana Tech or the three-seed Vanderbilt.Â
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
Friday, April 03
Friday, April 03
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