TOWSON, Md. – The National Tenpin Coaches Association released its latest collegiate bowling poll on Friday, with the North Carolina A&T Aggies dropping from the second-ranked team in the nation to No. 6. On Friday during the first day of Morgan State University's James Brown Invitational (JBI) at AMF Lanes, A&T played like a team who wasn't too pleased with that.
The Aggies took a week off from competition before JBI, and it made a difference at first glance. A&T, the defending JBI champions, went 5-0 in Baker play. The top-3 teams were from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), starting with A&T.
The Aggies had the day's highest pin total at 4,991 to average out at 199.6. They finished 58 pins ahead of 24th-ranked tournament-host Morgan State, who had a 197.3 average per contest. Tenth-ranked University Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) finished 4,905 for an average of 196.2.
A&T's day started with a matchup against St. Francis (Pa.). Reigning MEAC bowler of the week, Katie Robb led off a lineup that included sophomore Maya Avilez, junior Laura Garcia, sophomore Chloe Newberry and senior Lauren Tomaszewski as they defeated St. Francis (Pa.), 997-882. Their best game was a 231 in Game 1.
The same quintet then bowled in a bye where they posted a 1,035, including a spectacular 275 in Game 1. Another MEAC foe, the Howard Bison, came next for A&T. Sophomore Grace Stull took over the lead-off duties against the Bison and was joined by senior Jada Bassette, Garcia, Newberry and Tomaszewski. They defeated the Bison 962-780, as the Bison never reached 200 in a game. The Aggies bowled a 213 in Games 2 and 4.
UMES represented the highest-ranked team the Aggies played on Friday. The Aggies bowled like they were facing stiff competition. The Aggies had their best output of the day, knocking down 1,046 pins against the Hawks for a 1,046-991 win.
The starting lineup featured Stull, Bassette, Garcia, Newberry and Tomaszewski, with Avilez also playing a role. A&T posted a 245 in Game 2 and a 233 in Game 5. While the Hawks represented the highest-ranked team the Aggies faced on Day 1, 18th-ranked Mt. Saint Mary's became A&T's closest match. A&T outlasted the Mount with the lineup of Stull, Avilez, Garcia, Newberry and Tomaszewski. After Friday's action, the Aggies are 56-21.
Saturday's play will feature traditional matches starting at 10 a.m.
