Women's Bowling | 10/10/2026 9:50:00 PM
HARAHAN, La. — As nice beginnings go, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University bowling team is off to a strong start.
The Aggies, the ninth-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll, are off to a 10-0 start after going 5-0 in traditional play on Saturday during the second day of Tulane University's Colonial Classic at Colonial Lanes. They are the only undefeated team at the Colonial Classic and will enter Sunday's best-of-seven bracket play in Baker format as the No. 2 seed, after a two-day total pinfall of 9,741.
A&T is averaging 194.8 total pins over 25 games, second only to seventh-ranked Louisiana Tech. The Techsters are 9-1 with a total pinfall of 10,021 (200.4). Alabama State (9,700), 17th-ranked Tulane (9,629), and eighth-ranked Sam Houston State University (9,606) round out the top 5. The Aggies will seek their first non-conference tournament win since their 2023 Colonial Classic victory.
The Aggies will face longtime NCAA tournament rival La Tech to open Sunday's bracket play. Beyond a chance to win the tournament, A&T will also have a medalist in Senior
Payton Hartgrove, who took first place with a total pinfall of 1,108 and an average of 221.60 pins over five games. The last time the Aggies had a medalist in a non-conference event was when Lauren Tomaszewski won the Prairie View A&M University Invitational in 2022. Sophomore
Charisse Graham and junior Victorya finished in the top 15. Graham placed seventh with a total pinfall of 1,043, averaging 209.0. White bowled five games, ending with a total pinfall of 973 for an average of 194.60.
Sunday will mark the second straight day the Aggies will face La Tech after opening Saturday's competition with a 1,063-979 win over the Bulldogs. Hartgrove led the way with 245 total pinfall, with White adding 226 and Graham posting 223. Sophomore Alexa Excamilla also contributed with a total pinfall of 205. The Aggies then followed with another win over a ranked opponent in the SHSU Bearkats.
Once again, four Aggies bowlers exceeded 200 pinfall, led by Graham's 231 in a 1,027-960 victory. Senior
Savannah Burgin came through with a 214, followed by Hartgrave's 212 and White's 211. A&T defeated its next opponent, Emmanuel, 982-900. Hartgrove had another impressive showing with a 255 total pinfall. Junior
Jasmine Hall entered the lineup with a 235 total pinfall. The Aggies moved to 4-0 on the day and 9-0 on the season with a Game 4 win over fellow HBCU Alabama State.
Burgin led the Aggies to a 1,050-904 over the Hornets with a 237 total pinfall. Hall continued to play with a 227, and White and Graham each posted a 203. The Aggies closed Saturday's traditional match play against another fellow HBCU in Jackson State. Hartgrove continued to lead the Aggies after recording a 216. Graham ended her day with a 203 total pinfall.
