Women's Bowling | 11/22/2025 11:02:00 PM
HARAHAN, La. – North Carolina A&T had a rough start to Saturday's traditional team play at the 2025 Colonial Lanes Classic hosted by the Tulane University Green Wave bowling team at Colonial Lanes.
The Aggies, the seventh-ranked team in the nation, lost three consecutive matches to nationally ranked teams in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll to open Saturday's competition before recovering to win their last two matches, including a win over the No. 3 team in the country and tournament leader, the Vanderbilt Commodores.
A&T went 2-3 on Saturday. The Aggies are 5-5 for the tournament and will enter Sunday's best-of-seven bracket play (Baker format) as the No. 6 seed. The Aggies totaled 5,054 pins on Saturday and have a total pinfall of 10,066 over the first two days of the tournament. Vanderbilt leads the tournament at 7-3 with a total pinfall of 10,513.
Second-ranked Nebraska is second with a total pinfall of 10,272 and a 7-3 record, followed by No. 6 Arkansas State (9-1, 10,237), fifth-ranked Wichita State (9-1, 10,173), and No. 9 Louisiana Tech (6-4, 10,149) in the top 5.
Division I transfer Payton Hartgrove led the Aggies on Saturday with a total pinfall of 1,104 to average 220.80 over five games. Hartgrove is in fifth place individually. Freshman Sara Giraldo also ranks among the top 15 individually, totaling 1,054 pins to average 210.80 over five games. Tulane's Mia Stolakis leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 1,182 to average 236.40.
A&T's Saturday started with a matchup against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves defeated the Aggies 1,081-957. Hartgrove led the Aggies by bowling a 257. Freshman Charisse Graham chipped in with a total pinfall of 205. But the Aggies could not overcome all five Red Wolves in the lineup, bowling at least a 194, led by Maggie Thoma's 243.
Nebraska faced the Aggies next, defeating A&T 1,125-1,013. Giraldo led some strong performances by A&T during the match, posting a total pinfall of 239. Graham contributed a 208, and sophomore Victorya White complemented the effort with a 204 total pinfall. Karina Capron countered A&T's efforts by bowling a 241, followed by Haley Swindle's 224. Duquesne became A&T's third straight ranked opponent.
The 12th-ranked Dukes defeated A&T 1,045-1,003. White led the Aggies with a 217 total pinfall. Giraldo followed with a 212, and Graham added a total pinfall of 202. But the Dukes' narrow win was aided by Maribeth Baker's 247. Emma Siekierski added a total pinfall of 223 to assist the Dukes.
After the three disappointing losses, the Aggies earned a key win over Vandy. Senior Juliana Sams entered the lineup to post a 232 total pinfall to help the Aggies defeat the Commodores 1,044-1,025. Giraldo led the way with a 235, followed by Hartgrove's 226 total pinfall. The Aggies ended the day with a 1,037-942 win over Texas Southern. White led A&T by posting a 227 total pinfall, followed closely by Hartgrove's 226. Giraldo added a 214 total pinfall.
The Aggies will begin best-of-seven bracket play against Louisiana Tech, which enters bracket play as the No. 5 seed.
