HANRAHAN, La. – The North Carolina A&T bowling team will enter Sunday's bracket play at the Colonial Classic hosted by Tulane University at Colonial Lanes Bowling Alley as the No. 5 seed after going 3-2 during traditional play on Sunday.
The Aggies, the sixth-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, totaled 4,921 pins on Saturday. The Aggies have a total pinfall of 9,987 for an average of 199.7. Freshman Victorya White led the Aggies during traditional play. White, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) bowler of the week, finished 16th overall with a 1,041 total pinfall and an average of 208.20.
"I felt good about my performance," said White. "The biggest challenge I faced was definitely the transition and what ball to change into. The only adjustments needed today were to ball down, move left, and ensure that I'm flat with my hand and stay long in my shots."
A&T did not have an ideal start to the day. The Aggies opened Saturday's play against tournament host Tulane, the 13thranked team in the nation. The Green Wave defeated A&T 1,115-987, led by Nancy Kohut's 225. White led A&T's efforts with a 240 total pinfall, followed by Tianna Jessamine Cruz's 194.
"Today, I felt I could have done way better with my game overall," said Cruz. "I wasn't as nervous anymore, but at the end of the day, I felt I let my team down with the many spares I missed. The biggest challenge during the tournament was overcoming my self-doubt. I was confident, but trying to bounce back from a missed makeable spare to another was hard to escape a bit."
A&T followed the loss to Green Wave with a 999-986 loss to unranked Alabama State. Savanna Razor led the Hornets with a 229 pinfall. Newberry led the Aggies with a 227, while Cruz again played an outstanding complementary role with a 212 total pinfall. Senior Maya Avilez contributed a 207.
"Today was a tough day for me personally," said Newberry. "I wasn't getting the hits I wanted, and it was a pretty hard day, but we got there eventually."
A&T was victorious the rest of the way on Saturday, starting with a 964-812 win over Prairie View A&M. White led the way for the Aggies with a 234. Sophomore Savannah Burgin came through with a 212 pinfall. The Aggies then defeated 24th-ranked Oklahoma Christian University, led by Cruz's 234. Burgin contributed a 203 total pinfall.
"I executed well today and made some good shots," said Burgin. "The biggest challenge we faced these past few days is underestimating teams. We are a very strong team, but sometimes we take that for granted."
The Aggies won their third straight match during traditional play with a 1,017-992 win over Alabama A&M. Newberry led the Aggies with a 234 pinfall. Burgin contributed a 214, and Cruz posted a 196. The Aggies are 7-3 for the tournament and will face the Green Wave on Sunday morning in bracket play. A&T is 26-7 on the season.
Newberry had the second-highest pin total for A&T at 1,002 to average 200.40. Cruz had a total pinfall of 995 for an average of 199.0.
"I loved our fight today," said Burgin. "We had some tough matches but fought until the end."
