MILLSBORO, Del. – In its most prestigious competition to date this year, the NSU women's bowling team posted a winning record for the fourth consecutive weekend when the Spartans went 7-6 at the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland Eastern Shore.

The 20-team field included many of the top-ranked teams in the preseason National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Poll. NSU (29-14 overall) toppled three ranked teams during the three-day affair.

On Friday, the Spartans went 3-2 in baker matches with wins over Howard, St. Peter's and No. 13-ranked Adelphi. That put the Spartans into the upper bracket of the tournament.

On Saturday, NSU again posted a 3-2 mark, downing No. 20 Valparaiso 841-823, Cheyney 794-463 and Hampton 897-736. NSU's losses were to No. 14 Southern (905-870) and No. 6 Delaware State (906-854). Sheila-Marie Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Jessica Overton (Mechanicsville, Va.) had the top averages for the Spartans in the team games. Smith knocked down 734 pins in four games for a 183.5 average. She highlighted her day with a season-best game of 245 pins in the win over Hampton.

Overton was steady throughout, knocking down 721 in four games for a 180.3 average. Her top game was a season-high 206 against Delaware State. Other top games included Cathryn Myrick (Virginia Beach, Va.) with a 220 against Southern and Chelsea Krall (Virginia Beach, Va.) with a 208 against Cheyney.

NSU wrapped up the weekend with a 1-2 effort in Sunday's baker games. The Spartans topped No. 14 Southern 4-0 in the first best-of-seven match before falling to No. 18 St. Francis 4-1 and Southern 4-1 in the final match of the day.

The Spartans have this weekend off before returning to MEAC Southern Division play Dec. 5-6 at South Carolina State.