GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 15 Norfolk State bowling team finished in a tie for first this weekend at the MEAC Southern Divisional hosted by North Carolina A&T at the AMF Lanes in Greensboro.

NSU tied Florida A&M and the host Aggies at 5-3 overall. Bethune-Cookman had the highest pinfall among the five teams but finished one game back at 4-4. North Carolina Central ended the weekend fifth at 1-7.

The Spartans went 2-2 on Saturday, led by the outstanding play of senior Thea Aspiras. She finished with the top average on the day with a 207.6 in all five games, including the bye. The next closest player was more than 10 pins behind Aspiras.

She had a 257 during the bye to open the tournament, but the Spartans came up short in their next two matches, 908-881 to Florida A&M and a narrow 905-902 loss to Bethune-Cookman. NSU did rebound with a 902-810 victory over North Carolina Central and a 910-883 triumph over North Carolina A&T.

Along with Aspiras, junior Kelsea Yarbrough averaged 178.6 in five games, while freshman Nicole Rivera Santiago and Delilah Bethel posted 175.0 and 172.0 averages, respectively, in five games. Junior Courtney Brown bowled four games, and junior Emily Weber also competed once on Saturday.

Norfolk State then went 3-1 on Sunday, falling only to North Carolina A&T in the first game, 711-688. The Aggies went on to finish 4-0 on the second day of play.

NSU picked up wins over North Carolina Central, 758-695, Bethune-Cookman, 875-806, and Florida A&M, 702-677.

It marked the first of three southern divisionals this year, with the second scheduled for early December.

NSU will be back on the road this weekend at the UMES Hawk Classic in Millsboro, Del., beginning on Friday.