Stephen F. Austin
Mid Winter Invitational
SFA Finishes Fifth at Mid-Winter Invitational
1/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
JONESBORO, Ark. – Stephen F. Austin won two of its three baker style bracket matches over the final day of the Arkansas State Mid-Winter Invitational, finishing fifth overall. It marks the second top-five finish of the season for the Ladyjacks as SFA posted a 9-3 mark over the three-day tournament.
Seeded fifth heading into the best-of-seven matches, SFA was paired with Vanderbilt in the opening round. After dropping the opening game to the Commodores 201-183, the Ladyjacks responded with four-straight victories, winning the final two games 202-170 and 219-173.
SFA pushed its winning streak to five straight, taking the opening game against Central Missouri 185-173 in the second round, then took the third 208-175 after dropping game two. But the Jennies responded to take the final three games of the match, sending the Ladyjacks into a rematch with Vanderbilt to battle for fifth-place.
The Commodores again won the opener, defeating the Ladyjacks 195-174, before a pair of 200-pin games gave SFA the 2-1 lead (235-225, 224-171). SFA dropped the fourth 215-158 but then rallied to win the final two, taking down Vanderbilt 253-178 and 207-172 to finish fifth overall.
Maryland-Eastern Shore captured the overall team title, upsetting top-seeded Nebraska then defeating host Arkansas State in the championship match to finish first. Nebraska finished third with Central Missouri joining the Ladyjacks among the top-five.
SFA closed out the event with the fourth-highest scoring average at 197.7. Sophomore Kiara Grant was officially announced as a member of the all-tournament team, finishing third in the individual standings for her first career all-tournament honors.
A busy winter continues for SFA as the Ladyjacks will compete in the second of back-to-back-to-back tournaments next weekend, heading east for the Kutztown Invitational in Reading, Pa. The three-day event gets underway Friday, January 23, before wrapping up Sunday, January 25.
2015 Mid-Winter Invitational Bracket Results
First Round – SFA 4, Vanderbilt 1
L, 201-183; W, 185-154; W, 177-172; W, 202-170; W, 219-173
Second Round – Central Missouri 4, SFA 2
W, 185-173; L, 233-187; W, 208-175; L, 205-188; L, 190-156; L, 202-176
Final Round – SFA 4, Vanderbilt 2
L, 195-174; W, 235-225; W, 224-171; L, 215-158; W, 253-178; W, 207-172
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