TOWSON, Md. – Junior
Briana Gardner rolled a 279 on Saturday, but the No. 22 Norfolk State bowling team struggled to a 4-8 record over the weekend at the James Brown Invitational hosted by Morgan State at the AMF Towson Lanes.
Gardner tallied her 279 in a loss to No. 25 Saint Francis Brooklyn in the fourth game of the day for NSU on Saturday. It marked the second-highest game of Gardner's career and the third-highest game ever in NSU history.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, it came in a losing effort. NSU dropped four of five matches on Saturday in traditional play after going 3-1 on Friday in Baker action. Norfolk State eventually dropped six in a row to close out the tournament after falling in all three Baker matches on Sunday in the bracket round.
Gardner averaged 189.2 in five games on Saturday to lead the way. The Spartans only had the services of five bowlers, who each competed in all five games. Freshman
Heizel Quinones averaged 172.4, while junior
Meagan Marciano and freshmen
Aubrey Conrad and
Jasmin Whitaker each averaged between 160 and 169.
The Spartans started off well, winning three of four on Saturday. It began with an 827-787 win over Caldwell, which was followed by a loss to No. 15 St. Francis (Pa.), 892-876. After a bye, in which NSU averaged better than 200 for the five Baker games, the Spartans closed out the day by defeating New Jersey City, 913-783, and Wilmington, 897-684.
But on Saturday, the Spartans could only muster an 844-748 win over Coppin State in the second game of the day. They fell to Mount Aloysius, 991-866, prior to the victory over the Eagles. Later on, NSU dropped contests against No. 12 Monmouth (1,114-776), Saint Francis Brooklyn (1,033-997) and Felician (853-804).
Saint Francis Brooklyn rolled three straight 200 games to defeat the Spartans again on Sunday in the first match of the bracket round, 4-1. Playing a best-of-seven series, NSU also succumbed to Felician in the next round, 4-3. Felician won the seventh and final game, 221-202.
Mount Aloysius won three in a row during the middle of their match with NSU in the last game of the tournament. Mount Aloysius eventually won, 4-2.
The Spartans will next play in the final MEAC Southern Divisional of the year from March 4-5 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
