Bowling Finishes Fourth at its Stormin’ Ladyjack Classic

Friday, February 16

Houston, Texas

Stephen F. Austin

SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Classic

Bowling_Seniors_Team_Stormin_Ladyjack_Classic

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Bowling Finishes Fourth at its Stormin’ Ladyjack Classic

2/18/2018 3:48:00 PM | Women's Bowling

Ladyjacks go 1-2 in bracket play Sunday, fall to second-ranked McKendree and No. 3 Arkansas State in final two rounds

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

Final Results | Tournament Central

HOUSTON, Texas – For the second consecutive year and third out of the tournament's four-year history, the Stephen F. Austin bowling team placed fourth at its own Stormin' Ladyjack Classic. The Ladyjacks collected their fifth top-five finish of the season and second this calendar year by earning a 4-1 triumph over Southland Bowling League counterpart and third-ranked Arkansas State in the opening round of bracket play. Second-ranked McKendree University handed SFA a 4-2 loss in the second round before No. 3 Arkansas defeated the Ladyjacks 4-2 in a rematch for third place.

Nebraska, ranked as the top team in the nation in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top-25 coaches poll, won the Stormin' Ladyjack Classic for the first time, while defending tournament champion McKendree was the runner-up of the fourth annual event. The Huskers beat the Bearcats 4-2 in the championship match for the 2018 title.

SFA finished out the three-day, 13-match tournament with a 7-6 overall record and 13,384 total pins. After completing day one of competition with a 2-3 record through the first five pool play matches and standing in eighth place with 4,808 pins, the Ladyjacks made a comeback Saturday by winning four out of five traditional team matches. SFA moved into third place after day two of competition by tallying 5,121 pins as the Ladyjacks ended the tournament with their 51st-straight top-10 finish dating back to February 2013.

Behind a lineup of freshman Dakota Faichnie (Innisfil, Ontario, Canada), senior Morgan Reising (Lewisville, Texas), sophomore Megan Eaglehouse (Cibolo, Texas), freshman Sarah Gill (Attleboro, Mass.) and senior Stephanie Schwartz (Racine, Wis.), SFA claimed a 204-147 game one win over the third-ranked Red Wolves and were victorious in the final three games of the match. The Ladyjacks rebounded after a 203-166 game two defeat to win the third through fifth games by counts of 180-172, 193-168 and 185-176.

Taking on a very talented defending national champion McKendree team in the second round, SFA was edged by just one pin in the opening game of the match (214-213) before out-bowling the Bearcats 219-178 in the second game. A pair of strong games by McKendree made it 3-1 as the Bearcats tallied consecutive games of 237, winning 237-212 and 237-198. A thrilling game five ensued with the Ladyjacks needing a comeback to extend the match. SFA got back-to-back strikes from their anchor Schwartz in the final frame and secured a 235-226 game five win to make it 3-2. However, the Bearcats took game six 246-212 to advance to the championship match and leave the Ladyjacks to compete for third place.

After dropping game one (234-222) of their rematch with third-ranked Arkansas State, SFA posted a convincing 216-154 game two win and picked up game three, 217-206. The Ladyjacks would then see their 2-1 match lead quickly diminish as the Red Wolves won the next two games of the contest by narrow margins of 190-185 and 189-185. The final match of SFA's run at the tournament came to an end when Arkansas State earned a 258-223 win in game six to secure the 4-2 victory.

Up next…
The Ladyjacks will have the next two weeks off from competition as they prepare for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Sectionals held Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11 at USA Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack bowling throughout this winter and spring.

Prairie View A&M Invitational – Day Three Results
Team Baker Matches (bracket play)

Match One | No. 7 SFA 4 – No. 3 Arkansas State 1
W, 204-147; L, 203-166; W, 180-172; W, 193-168; W, 185-176

Match Two | No. 7 SFA 4 – No. 2 McKendree 2
L, 214-213; W, 219-178; L, 237-212; L, 237-198; W, 235-226; L, 246-212

Match Three | No. 3 Arkansas State 4 – No. 7 SFA 2
L, 234-222; W, 216-154; W, 217-206; L, 190-185; L, 189-185; L, 258-223

All-Tournament Team
Tiera Gulum* (Tulane) – 1,147 (229.40)
Kelly Belzeski (Nebraska) – 1,146 (229.20)
Julia Bond (Nebraska) – 1,096 (219.20)
Breanna Clemmer (McKendree) – 1,096 (219.20)
Taylor Bailey (Mckendree) – 1,088 (217.60)
Samantha Gainor (Vanderbilt) – 1,088 (217.60)
*-Denotes tournament MVP

-SFA-