HANRAHAN, La. – The seventh-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) top-25 poll, the North Carolina A&T Aggies bowling team, is undefeated heading into the final day of the 2022 Colonial Classic hosted by Tulane University at Colonial Lanes.
Bracket play begins Sunday morning at 8:30, with the Aggies holding the No. 1 seed thanks to a 5-0 day on Saturday during traditional play. That follows a Friday where the Aggies went 4-0. They are now 9-0 in the young season. In the process of going undefeated on Saturday, the Aggies knocked off two NTCA top-5 teams.
Sophomore Chloe Newberry had a career day. She led the way for A&T on Saturday, totaling 1,066 pins for a five-game average of 213.20. She finished the day in third place. Her highest finish last season was 11th. Her day included a career-high 244 scored in the first game against fourth-ranked Stephen F. Austin (SFA). She came into the day with eight 200-plus scoring performances in traditional play. She ended the day with four more.
Senior Lauren Tomaszewski finished fourth by totaling 1,044 pins for a five-game average of 208.80. She had three 200-plus games on Saturday. Junior Melanie Katen was the third Aggie in the top-10 on Saturday by knocking over 1,030 pins for a five-game average of 206.60. She also had three 200-plus bowling games.
The Aggies opened the day with a win over fourth-ranked Stephen F. Austin (SFA), 1,060-919. It was the Aggies highest scoring output of the day. In addition to Newberry's 244, Katen produced a 235 and Tomaszewski contributed with a score of 233. A&T followed that key win over a top-5 opponent with a 965-957 win over fifth-ranked Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Again, Katen led the way for the Aggies with a 206, followed by a 204 from junior Laura Garcia.
A&T did not let off the gas against Alabama State, defeating the Hornets 981-864. Three Aggies had 200-plus pins or better games, including Newberry's 216. Garcia finished with a 206, and Katen posted a 202. Another Alabama school went down at the hands of the Aggies next, as A&T defeated Alabama A&M 1,010-901. Tomaszewski led the Aggies with a 225. Newberry added 214, and Katen closed the game by scoring 199.
In the day's final game, the Aggies defeated Southern 983-872. Newberry completed her breakout day with a 216. Tomaszewski closed with a 204, and senior Jada Bassette joined in with a 195. It was Bassette's only game bowled on Saturday.
Garcia bowled four games for the Aggies and totaled 780 pins for an average of 195.0. She had two games in the 200s. Sophomore Maya Avilez had a three-game average of 173.67, tallying 521 pins. Graduate Katie Robb recorded two games and totaled 363 pins for a 181.50 average.
The Aggies open bracket play on Sunday in Baker format against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) school Maryland Eastern Shore. UMES is the tournament's second seed and the 14th-ranked team in the nation. An Aggies win will automatically send the Aggies to the finals.
