GLEN BURNIE, Md. – The Norfolk State bowling team placed ninth at the first MEAC meet of the season over the weekend at Bowl America. The Spartans went 2-9 overall, recording a pair of wins over Morgan State.
 
NSU averaged 158.7 per game for the weekend to end the tournament ninth in terms of game average. Its record included losses in all six traditional games, five on Saturday and one more on Sunday. The Spartans also went 1-3 in Baker play on Friday and won its only match on Sunday in the bracket round.
 
NSU finished tied for 10^th with Bethune-Cookman with a 1-9 record in conference games, which included everything except bracket round contests.
 
Sophomore Crystal Brewer averaged 14^th among individuals with a 181.7 averaged in six traditional games. The next closest player for NSU was freshman Chanel Staton at 166.2 in six games as well.
 
The weekend began and ended with wins over Morgan State. The first one on Friday came via a 784-764 Baker victory over the Bears. NSU also won 4-2 in the bracket round on Sunday in a best-of-7 series despite MSU finishing with an overall higher pinfall. Its two wins were each by at least 56 pins, while three of NSU's victories were by 15 pins or less.
 
In between, NSU suffered nine straight defeats. Friday's other Baker results included losses to Florida A&M (861-813), Bethune-Cookman (801-741) and No. 25 Monmouth (931-875).
 
On Saturday, Howard (873-805), No. 15 Delaware State (970-800), Coppin State (998-749), No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore (1,042-738) and No. 8 North Carolina A&T (993-813) all handed setbacks to the Spartans. No. 19 UAB also earned a win over the Spartans on Sunday, 969-810, as teams played another traditional game that day before the start of bracket play.
 
NSU had a bye both on Friday during Baker play and again during the bracket round.
 
Aside from Brewer and Staton, sophomore Trinity Gray and freshman Megan Wheat each bowled in six games. Sophomore Dieonjonai Haupt and freshman Jasmin Hudson split six games as well.
 
The second conference meet of the regular season will take place in late February. The Spartans will have to make up ground, as only the top eight teams from the standings will advance to the MEAC tournament in March.
 
NSU will not compete again until Jan. 17-19 at the Northeast Invitational.