Stephen F. Austin
Greater Ozark Invitational
SFA Has Successful Second Day In Missouri
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
Oct. 24, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The SFA bowling team knocked off a pair of nationally-ranked teams on Saturday in the second day of the Greater Ozark Invitational on Saturday.
SFA rolled its way to wins over No. 2 Vanderbilt and No. 7 Arkansas State on Saturday on a day that saw them bowl against four nationally-ranked opponenets.
"I thought our girls adjusted to a very difficult field and oil pattern very well today," head coach Laura Cramer said. "We played four nationally-ranked teams today, winning two and competing toe-to-toe with the others in a very solid tournament field."
The Ladyjacks opened up with a total-pins match against No. 2 Vanderbilt and role a game-high 210 from Whitney McCoy to a 981-937 win over the Commodores. SFA then quickly moved to 2-0 on the day with a 950-934 win over No. 7 Arkansas State behind a pair of 200 games from Sierra Gibbons and Ashli Rosenkrantz.
"That was huge for us to go get those first two wins," Cramer said. "That will be big for our confidence as the season progresses. Each of those two teams are nationally known, and to take wins over them is a giant yardstick early on for our program."
The Ladyjacks dropped a trio of close matches in their final three contests of the day, though, starting with a 936-919 win to Elmhurst College. No. 17 Minnesota State-Mankato then got the best of SFA with a narrow 911-908 win despite a 221 from Gibbons an a solid 204 from Rosenkrantz.
SFA then took on the host Central Missouri Jennies, falling 910-879, as the patterns dissolived toward the end of the day. Central Missouri was ranked No. 3 in the latest poll and finished second in the nation last season.
Through two rounds of play Ashli Rosenkrantz currently ranks 18th out of 77 bowlers with a 196 tournament average. Sierra Gibbons ranks 22nd with a 193 average and Whitney McCoy holds a 190 average as well.
SFA currently holds the No. 6 seed with 4,637 total pins and will take on Valparaiso and Nebraska in Baker game format on Sunday.
-SFA-
