Women's Bowling | 2/22/2025 10:40:00 PM
DOVER, Del. – North Carolina A&T bowling lost its first conference match of the season during the second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Meet on Saturday hosted by Delaware State at the Doverama bowling alley. However, they remain the top team in the league after a 3-1 showing.
The Aggies, the sixth-ranked team in the nation according to the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, came into Saturday's conference action with a 7-0 MEAC record. Their first opponent was the Morgan State Bears, who walked into Doverama with a 6-1 mark in the league.
Despite a 208 total pinfall from senior Maya Avilez and a 203 pinfall from freshman Victorya White, the Bears defeated the Aggies 965-937.
"Today, the challenging part, in my opinion, was stacking good shots together as a team," said freshman Jasmine Hall, who has won three rookie of the week honors from the conference this season. "The lanes were very playable, but splits and tough breaks were also very present today. So, closing frames and being present on the current shot was very crucial."
After losing to the Bears, the Aggies recovered nicely. They went on a tear from there, starting with a 1,019-919 win over Norfolk State. It was Avilez's 237 that led the way, followed by White's 202. Graduate Melanie Katen contributed a 199 total pinfall.
The Aggies moved on to face host Delaware State, the 21st-ranked team in the nation. A&T was masterful, taking down the Hornets 1,088-874. All five Aggies in the lineup bowled better than a 200 total pinfall, led by junior Julianna Sams, who posted a 223. White and Avilez posted 218 total pinfalls, with Hall stepping in to add a 216 total pinfall. Senior Laura Garcia completed the dominance with a 213 pinfall.
"The easy part was chasing transition," said Hall. "Most of us made ball changes when it was necessary and made moves very quickly. We did not really struggle today with getting ahead of the transition."
A&T closed Saturday's action with their best showing, defeating Coppin State 1,149-788. Again, all five Aggies eclipsed the 200 total pinfall barrier, with Sams leading the way again with her 247. Senior Grace Stull jumped into the action and recorded an impressive 235 pinfall, followed closely by Avilez's 234.
Hall bowled a 229, and White put the finishing touches on with a 203. The Aggies recorded a 4,193 total pinfall on Saturday, improving to 10-1 in conference action and 61-27 overall. Day 2 of MEAC Meet #2 will take place on Sunday at Doverama.
"I loved being able to come back after a week of rest and compete with my team again," said Hall. "The rhythm of the team, the shared goals, and the competitive spirit all felt even more rewarding."
