Women's Bowling | 3/10/2025 7:46:00 AM
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The North Carolina A&T bowling team is headed to Las Vegas. The Aggies are headed back to Vegas, April 16-19, to compete for a national championship after qualifying for the Intercollegiate Team Championship (ITC) nationals sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
After finishing second last season in the Allen Park Sectional, the Aggies return to Nevada as the top qualifier coming out of the Allen Park sectional at Thunderbowl Lanes. The Aggies had a total pinfall of 12,719 over 64 Baker format games bowled to earn the top spot in the sectional.
A&T finished ahead of the University of Pikesville, last season's top qualifier out of Allen Park. Pikesville totaled 12,691 pins over the weekend to qualify. The other two qualifying teams out of Allen Park were Mount St. Mary's (12,369), the 15th-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, and Saint Xavier University (12,315).
Pikesville took the early advantage over the first 16 games or the first block, totaling 3,228 pins, while the Aggies posted a total pinfall of 3,157 during the first block. Saint Xavier was not too far behind, finishing eight pins behind the Aggies. A&T started slow, but they posted two 247s, a 230 and a 227, over its final six games of the first block.
The Aggies took the lead in the second block (Games 17-32) and never relinquished their advantage from there. They bowled a 266 in Game 24 to propel themselves to the top before bowling a 265 in Game 27. The Aggies had a total pinfall of 467 over the final two games of the block to strengthen their lead.
A&T lost some of its lead in the third block, bowling a 3,078. Pikesville gained ground with a 3,194 total pinfall and The Mount propelled themselves into contention with a total pinfall of 3,329. But the Aggies would not be denied.
They started the fourth block (Games 49-64) by totaling 462 pins, and over the block's final two games, the Aggies combined for a total pinfall of 423, beating Pikesville by 28 pins.
As weekends go, this past weekend was about as outstanding as it gets for the A&T bowling program. On Friday, senior Maya Avilez earned top qualifying honors from the Allen Park Intercollegiate Singles Championship (ISC) and will compete for an individual national title in Las Vegas, April 14-19. Freshman teammate Victorya White will do the same after finishing third in the sectional.
There were three other ITC sectionals over the weekend. Joining the Aggies out of the Smyrna, Tenn., sectional will be second-ranked Jacksonville State, Savannah College of Arts and Design, 10th-ranked Maryville University, and ninth-ranked Stephen F. Austin.
Out of Addison, Ill., will be Mount Mercy, 11th-ranked Louisiana Tech, Judson, and 13th-ranked Wisconsin Whitewater. Twelfth-ranked Sacred Heart, Newman University, Central Missouri, and Lindenwood University emerged from the Fort Worth, Texas, sectional.
A&T returns to NCAA action this week when they travel to Smyrna, Tenn., for the annual Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt, March 14-16. The following week, they will compete for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in Raleigh, N.C., March 21-23 at Buffaloe Lanes.
