TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Norfolk State bowling team posted a 7-2 overall record, including 4-2 in official MEAC games, during the second MEAC Southern Divisional of the season over the weekend at the Galimore Lanes at Florida A&M.
The No. 23 Spartans were able to stay within a game of North Carolina A&T in the standings after the No. 18 Aggies also went 4-2 in conference play over the weekend. That ran their record to 9-3 in the league, with NSU right behind them at 8-4.
Norfolk State posted a 5-1 record on Saturday, 2-1 in traditional play and 3-0 in Baker games. Only the traditional games counted toward MEAC records. Then on Sunday, the Spartans posted a 2-1 record in official MEAC Baker games.
Saturday's traditional games saw junior
Alexa Rodriguez lead the way for the Spartans. She rolled a 225 in the middle game and averaged 184.7 in all three games. Her 225 lifted the Spartans to an 898-895 win over Florida A&M. The Spartans also topped Bethune-Cookman 791-754 after also opening the day's action with an 893-848 loss to A&T.
Then in Baker play on Saturday afternoon, NSU made it a complete sweep of its Southern Division foes. The Spartans defeated the Aggies, 815-782, followed by wins over FAMU (860-828) and B-CU (792-756).
NSU also defeated A&T in Baker play on Sunday, 960-911. The Spartans also rolled a 960 in the next game, however FAMU did slightly better at 963 to earn the win. NSU was able to cruise in the last match of the day against B-CU, 957-515.
Besides Rodriguez, all four of NSU's other bowlers averaged between 161 and 167 in Saturday's traditional play. Senior
Briana Gardner (167.3) and freshman
McKayla Lang (167.0) were followed by senior
Meagan Marciano (165.3) and sophomore
Aubrey Conrad (161.3).
N.C. A&T (6-3) and FAMU (5-4) both finished with worse overall records than NSU despite those two schools averaging more per game than the Spartans. They averaged 175.1, with A&T at 181.0 and FAMU averaging 177.9 in those nine games.
Norfolk State will not return to the lanes until after the holidays. The Spartans next compete at the Kutztown Invitational from Jan. 19-21.
