READING, Pa. – The Norfolk State bowling team took down three top-12 teams on Friday and five ranked teams altogether during the three-day Kutztown Invitational this weekend at Hiester Lanes.
 
The 10^th annual tournament started off well for NSU, which ultimately finished 8-5 and in 15^th place out of 27 total teams at the end. A total of 16 ranked teams competed at the tournament.
 
The Spartans began the weekend's action with a 4-1 record on Friday in Baker play, followed by a 3-2 record on Saturday in traditional games. Switching back to Baker on Sunday for the bracket round, they tallied a 1-2 record to close out the tournament.
 
On Friday, Norfolk State started things off with a win over No. 12 Sacred Heart, 1,039-969, which was followed by a setback to Kutztown by a 999-966 score. The Spartans then topped Duquesne by a 931-865 margin.
 
They finished off Friday's action with two more victories over ranked teams. First it was a 1,025-971 triumph over No. 10 Fairleigh Dickinson, and NSU topped fellow MEAC school and No. 8 ranked Maryland Eastern Shore, 916-896, to close out the first day of play.
 
Saturday's traditional play began with a 972-947 win over Chestnut Hill College and then a huge victory over Morgan State 1,015-910. Junior Alexa Rodriguez rolled her first of four straight 200 games, and senior Briana Gardner had a 234 to help the Spartans start the day off strong. Games of 243 by senior Meagan Marciano, a career high, and 235 by sophomore Aubrey Conrad helped the Spartans defeat Morgan State.
 
Gardner rolled a 258 as No. 16 Saint Francis (Pa.) topped the Spartans 1,009-966, before NSU turned around and defeated another ranked opponent, 997-960 over No. 13 Adelphi.
 
The Spartans hit a slump in their final match of the day, falling to Howard, 970-853.
 
Norfolk State faced off against No. 14 Alabama-Birmingham in the first round on Sunday. The Spartans won the first game in the best-of-seven series, but the Blazers won the next four to move up in the bracket.
 
Duquesne then swept NSU by a 4-0 score, but the Spartans did close out the tournament on a high note, winning the last three games to knock off No. 14 LIU Brooklyn, 4-1.
 
Rodriguez averaged 208.2 in the five traditional games on Saturday. Gardner was not far behind her at 203.6. Marciano tallied a 190.4 average in five game, and Conrad followed suit with a 189.2 average as well.
 
Freshman McKayla Lang rounded out the lineup with a 169.2 average, competing in all five games as well.
 
As a team, the Spartans averaged 192.5 per game over the course of the weekend.
 
NSU will return back to the Keystone State this weekend to compete in the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis (Pa.).