TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 19 Norfolk State bowling team ended the weekend with a 3-5 record during the third and final MEAC Southern Divisional of the year hosted by Florida A&M at the Galimore Lanes.
The Spartans saw their four-year streak of finishing first in the division snapped, as No. 10 North Carolina A&T pulled away to take home the regular season crown. The Aggies went a perfect 8-0 between Saturday and Sunday to complete the year at 20-4.
Bethune-Cookman finished strong over the two-day divisional to take second on the season at 15-9. NSU, at 13-11, finished third and just ahead of Florida A&M (12-12).
The Spartans posted a 2-2 record on Saturday in traditional play before completing Sunday's Baker action at 1-3. NSU nearly went 3-1 on the first day, but Bethune-Cookman was able to escape in the first game of the day with a 905-903 victory against the Spartans.
NSU defeated North Carolina Central in the next match, 966-750, but then after the bye the Spartans dropped a 929-801 contest to North Carolina A&T. They were able to rebound and down Florida A&M by a 896-799 score.
Junior
Carrie Hickey had the best day among the Spartan bowlers, as she averaged 194.0 in four games. Senior
Kelsea Yarbrough bowled a 221 against NCCU on the way to averaging 183.5 in four games.
Seniors
Courtney Brown and
Delilah Bethel finished a pin apart while tallying 170.5 and 170.3 averages, respectively, in all four matches. Freshman
Briana Gardner and senior
Ashley Buck split the last four available games, with Gardner posting a 174.0 average and Buck finishing with a 172.5 average.
NSU opened up Sunday's play with a triumph over NCCU, 956-690. The Spartans could not keep it going, though, dropping the last three matches of the day. It included another close contest against Bethune-Cookman, 959-942, as well as setbacks to N.C. A&T (996-888) and FAMU (894-855).
The Spartans will take part in the USBC Intercollegiate Team Sectionals on March 14-15 in Stratford, N.J. The MEAC Championship will be held from March 20-22 at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake, Va.
