ADELPHI BOWLS PERFECT 300 BAKER GAME IN SEMIFINALS
NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ…Sacred Heart University, the No. 4 ranked team among Division I, II, and III schools in the National Tenpin Coaches Association national poll, rallied to outlast second-seeded New Jersey City University in a best four-out-of-seven series, 4-3, in the semifinals, then defeated fourth-seeded Adelphi University in the finals, 4-1, to capture the 2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference Women’s Bowling Championship, Sunday at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes. The ECAC Championship is hosted annually by NJCU. It was the first ECAC title for the Pioneers, who defeated Adelphi in the finals by scores of 190-165, 189-175, 152-212, 200-184, 257-145.
The loss spoiled a historic day for Adelphi. The Panthers, ranked No. 14 nationally, become only the third known team in NCAA bowling history to bowl a perfect 300 game in the Baker format, accomplishing the feat in game four of the semifinals against two-time defending ECAC champion and top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University, to end FDU’s reign in a 4-0 sweep (236-192, 193-183, 178-160, 300-170).
The only other known 300 Baker games both occurred at the NCAA Championship. University of
Maryland Eastern Shore was the first to turn the trick in 2005, and Vanderbilt University achieved perfection in the 2007 NCAAs, en route to winning the national title. Adelphi was in fifth place in qualifying until the very last game, finishing in fourth place.
Adelphi knocked out FDU in the semifinals with scores of 236-192, 193-183, 178-160, 300-170, winning the final game by a staggering 130-pin margin.
In the best four-of-seven semifinals, NJCU twice led Sacred Heart in the series, but could not close out the Pioneers, as SHU, the third seed in the tournament after leading through four rounds on day one, edged NJCU, 4-games-to-3 (196-190, 193-214, 183-209, 180-169, 174-204, 203-197, 183-169).
NJCU, the annual host for the tournament, placed third for the third consecutive year after winning the inaugural event in 2005. NJCU, which entered the day in first place overall, held onto the lead until the final game of qualifying, before finishing as the No. 2 seed.
The Gothic Knights capitalized on FDU’s upset loss to Adelphi by nearly sweeping their North Jersey rivals in the third place match, winning 4-games-to-1 (172-176, 203-176, 191-184, 268-160, 200-198). NJCU is 7-4 against FDU this season, guaranteeing a winning record in the 2007-08 series.
In the final standings based on total pinfall following the eight qualifying matches, FDU edged NJCU for first place, 7,127 to 7,059. The 68-pin margin was the only time during the tournament that FDU led
the standings. NJCU led by 52 pins over FDU entering the final match—a team that was in third place and 136 pins back following six games—before the Gothic Knights rolled their lowest score of the year (670) in the quad Baker format.
Sacred Heart was third (6,956, -171). Adelphi, which was in fifth place and 59 pins behind Saint Peter’s entering the final qualifying match, vaulted into the playoffs at the end of qualifying, finishing fourth in the standings (6,654, -473). SPC was fifth, 36 pins behind Adelphi, with 6,618 (-509).
The 2008 All-Tournament Team, based on total pinfall in the five-game individual standings on March 8, also saw a bit of history. NJCU senior VICKI SPRATFORD (Hopelawn, NJ/Woodbridge) bowled her way onto the All-Tournament team for the fourth consecutive year. She is the only player in history to achieve the feat, and the only athlete to earn the honor more than twice. It was her sixth All-Tournament team selection of the 2007-08 season, and came two days after she became the first player in NJCU history to capture the ECAC Women’s Bowling Singles Championship on March 7.
Freshman Sarah Pelletier (Lewiston, ME), the player Spratford defeated in the singles championship match, edged her by five pins to place first overall in the individual standings (1,037 vs. 1,032) and earn All-Tournament Team honors.
Also on the All-Tournament Team were NJCU senior KRISTINA FIGUEIREDO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) who was third in pinfall (1,021) and Sacred Heart senior Amanda Lulu (Leicester, MA), the 2005 ECAC singles champion (1,013 pinfall). NJCU and SHU were the only schools with multiple players on the team.
While the All-Tournament Team is typically a five-player list, FDU freshman Sara Litteral (Chesterfield, MI) and Delaware State sophomore Samantha Scionti (Newport News, VA) each received the nod after finishing tied for fifth with 1,011 total wood. There were 74 total bowlers in the 12-team field.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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2008 ECAC WOMEN'S BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIP: PLAYOFF ROUND |
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(all matches best 4-out-of-7 Baker) |
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SEMIFINALS |
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#4 Adelphi University def. #1 Fairleigh Dickinson University, 4-0 (236-192, 193-183, 178-160, 300-170) |
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#3 Sacred Heart University def. #2 New Jersey City University, 4-3 (196-190, 193-214, 183-209, 180-169, 174-204, 203-197) |
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CONSOLATION BRACKET #1 |
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#8 St. Francis College def. #5 Saint Peter's College, 4-1 (161-155, 179-170, 133-148, 224-133, 174-151) |
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#7 Delaware State University def. #6 Kutztown University, 4-2 (168-168 [165-183], 176-152, 181-224, 212-190, 224-182, 203-187) |
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CONSOLATION BRACKET #2 |
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#9 Morgan State University def. #12 Cheyney University, 4-0 (219-102, 176-120, 162-144, 176-157) |
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#10 Hampton University def. #11 Howard University, 4-3 (161-139, 150-174, 123-153, 120-207, 166-117, 150-144, 180-171) |
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11TH-PLACE MATCH |
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#11 Howard University def. #12 Cheyney University, 4-0 (159-122, 158-134, 168-126, 154-117) |
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NINTH-PLACE MATCH |
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#9 Morgan State University def. #10 Hampton University, 4-0 (199-138, 176-143, 161-147, 166-155) |
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SEVENTH-PLACE MATCH |
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#5 Saint Peter's College def. #6 Kutztown University, 4-3 (206-148, 169-186, 180-170, 203-168, 156-158, 145-150, 221-200) |
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FIFTH-PLACE MATCH |
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#8 St. Francis College def. #7 Delaware State University, 4-3 (158-231, 223-183, 202-245, 184-190, 190-174, 213-151, 180-171) |
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THIRD-PLACE MATCH |
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#2 New Jersey City University def. #1 Fairleigh Dickinson University, 4-1 (172-176, 203-176, 191-184, 268-160, 200-198) |
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CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL |
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#3 Sacred Heart University def. #4 Adelphi University, 4-1 (190-165, 189-175, 152-212, 200-184, 257-145) |
