Women's Bowling | 2/7/2026 11:23:00 PM
LOCKPORT, Ill. – North Carolina A&T sophomore bowler
Tiana Cruz had a career day during the second of the Storm Flyer Classic hosted by Lewis University on Saturday at Strike & Spare II bowling alley.
Cruz posted a career-best 279 during traditional match play on Saturday on her way to finishing seventh individually with a career-best 1,077 total pinfall to average 215.40 over five games. Junior
Payton Hartgrove also finished in the top 15, posting a 1,064 total pinfall to place 13th with an average of 212.80 over five games. Hartgrove went over the 200 total pinfall mark in all five of her games on Saturday. Vanderbilt's Avery Domaguin leads the tournament with a 233.0 average.
A&T, the 13th-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25, went 4-1 on Saturday and has an overall 7-3 record for the tournament. A&T had a total pinfall of 4,855 and a total of 9,650 for the tournament, placing 11th with an average of 193.0. The top-ranked team in the nation, Jacksonville State, leads the tournament with a 10-0 record and an average of 212.50.
A&T opened the day with a win over third-ranked Arkansas State. Hartgrove led the way by posting a 216 total pinfall. Cruz added a 192 total pinfall to help seal the 962-908 win over the Red Wolves. A&T took down another ranked team in its next match. The Aggies defeated 16th-ranked Newman 1,084-933.
Cruz posted her career game during the win, posting a 279 total pinfall. Hartgrove continued to play well by posting a 212, followed by freshman
Sara Giraldo and sophomore
Victorya White contributing with 200 total pinfalls apiece. Sophomore
Jasmine Hall contributed to the dominance with a 193 total pinfall.
Sacred Heart did trip up the Aggies in A&T's third-round match. The Pioneers, the 11th-ranked team in the nation, beat the Aggies 1,041-927 despite Hartgrove's 208 total pinfall. Sacred Heart's Morgan Licausi led the Pioneers with a total pinfall of 226. A&T recovered in their next match with a 971-897 over Oklahoma Christian University.
Once again, Cruz led the Aggies with a 223 total pinfall, followed by Hartgrove's 213. The Aggies closed Saturday with a 911-841 win over Quincy University. Hartgrove completed her fabulous outing with a 214 total pinfall. White added a 195 total pinfall, and Cruz posted a 193 pinfall.
White placed 52nd in a tournament of 171 players by totaling 957 pins to average 191.40 over five games. The Aggies will enter best-of-seven bracket play in the Baker format as the No. 11 seed. They will open Sunday's play against Oklahoma Christian University.
