SMYRNA, Tenn. – North Carolina A&T women's bowling team ended the first day of the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in eight place after totaling 4,744 pins for a five-game average of 189.8. 

Prior to the start of the tournament, the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) released the March poll that saw the Aggies move up nine spots from No. 13 to No. 4.The Aggies went 3-2 on the day and improved to 38-7 on the season.

The fourth-ranked Aggies started with No. 16 Stephen F. Austin and fell to the Lumberjacks 953-895, but bounced back with an 886-861 win against Tusculum in the second game. 

N.C. A&T recorded back-to-back 1,000-plus games and defeated No. 8 Sam Houston State 1,022-981 in the third game, but fell to No. 6 Louisiana Tech 1,149-1,051.  N.C. A&T finished with an 890-826 win over No. 21 UAB, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in bowling, 890-826.

The Aggies trail Sam Houston State by 13 pins for seventh place, No. 17 Tulane by 34 pins for sixth place, No. 22 Central Missouri by 80 pins for fifth place. 
N.C. A&T bowls five traditional games Saturday against Tulane, No. 25 Valparaiso, No. 3 Vanderbilt, Spalding and No. 2 Arkansas State, who didn't make the trip to Tennessee. 

The tournament finishes Sunday with three baker best-of-seven series Sunday.