READING, Pa. – The No. 19 Norfolk State bowling team finished the weekend with a 7-7 record at the three-day, highly competitive Kutztown Invitational over the weekend at Hiester Lanes.
 
The Spartans started off well, posting a 4-2 record during Friday's Baker action. NSU went 2-3 during Saturday's traditional play before ending things with a 1-2 mark on Sunday in the bracket round.
 
Senior Kelsea Yarbrough averaged 205.8 in six games on Saturday, which included the bye. Yarbrough rolled a 257 during NSU's match off, 19 pins better than her career-high of 238 set earlier this season. She also had games of 227 and 218.
 
Senior Courtney Brown tallied a 188.7 average in six games, while fellow senior Ashley Buck posted a 184.2 average in six games. Junior Carrie Hickey and senior Courtney Williford also competed in all six contests as well on Saturday.
 
NSU opened up the tournament with three straight wins in Baker play. The Spartans downed Mount Aloysius College, 888-741, and then Medaille, 826-725. They also handed Pitt-Bradford an 891-717 setback.
 
Adelphi defeated NSU, 960-885, and No. 18 Kutztown followed with a 958-912 victory over the Spartans. They were able to end the day on a good note, squeaking by Cheyney, 860-857.
 
The Spartans began traditional play on Saturday with a pair of losses, first to No. 12 Sacred Heart by a 958-834 score and then to No. 14 Saint Francis Brooklyn, 955-843. In between, NSU scored its best of the weekend with a 1,013 tally during the bye.
 
After a victory over No. 11 St. Francis (Pa.), 937-814, the Spartans dropped their third contest of the day, this time to Monmouth by a 1,012-933 score. NSU finished out the day with a victory over Morgan State, 902-733.
 
NSU faced St. Francis (Pa.) two more times on Sunday in bracket play. The Red Flash defeated NSU by a 4-1 score in Baker action, forcing the Spartans to face Cheyney. The Spartans had to climb out of a 2-0 hole and eventually win the last two games, 190-174 and 221-159, to defeat Cheyney, 4-3.
 
The Red Flash, though, again won in five games in the last match as NSU finished 20^th out of 27 teams. The Spartans ranked 20^th after Saturday with a total pinfall of 10,724.
 
The Kutztown Invite is the largest tournament of the NCAA season and featured 14 ranked teams and four others receiving votes in the top-20 poll.
 
NSU will compete next weekend at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis (Pa.).