New Jersey City University Athletics

MILLSBORO, DE…Senior three-time All-American VICKI SPRATFORD (Hopelawn, NJ/Woodbridge) placed fifth overall of 126 bowlers to earn All-Tournament Team honors and paced the #6 ranked New Jersey City University women’s bowling to a 7-4 record and fourth place among 20 schools, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Classic over the weekend.

               

NJCU (21-13) rallied from a sixth-place standing after day one of the two-day event with a strong showing in five Baker matches to finish with a total pinfall of 9155, 23 more than fifth place Sacred Heart University. No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Vanderbilt University was first with 10,113 pins, #3 ranked Fairleigh Dickinson University was second (9,684) and #4 ranked and host UMES was third with 9,205 pins—just 50 ahead of NJCU.

               

On Saturday, November 17 in six traditional team games, the Gothic Knights had a 5,517 pinfall and listed sixth overall. After day one Vanderbilt led (6,052), followed by FDU (5,714), UMES (5,677), #18 Delaware State University (5,632) and Sacred Heart (5,564).

               

In Saturday’s action, NJCU went 4-2 overall. The Knights defeated #14 Morgan State University, 868-798 before dropping a tight, 10-pin match to UMES, 915-925. NJCU followed with routs of North Carolina Central University (909-643) and Coppin State University (948-645), winning by margins of 266 and 303 pins, respectively. NJCU again lost a close match to a nationally-ranked opponent, falling to Delaware State, 902-925, before hammering Winston-Salem State University by 376 pins, 975-599—its most lopsided victory over an opponent since a 452-pin decision against St. Francis College, 1166-714, on October 28, 2006.

               

On Sunday, November 18, the format switched to Baker four-game total pinfall. NJCU had a strong performance in the system under which the national championship is contested, posting the third highest five-match pinfall with total wood of 3,638. Only Vanderbilt (4,061) and FDU (3,970) had better Baker tallies.

 

In the five Baker NCAA matches, NJCU went 3-2 overall. In the first match, Vanderbilt defeated NJCU, 855-772. The Knights posted three consecutive wins, downing St. Francis, 690-635, #16 Bethune-Cookman College, 683-576, and St. Paul’s College, 814-640. In the final match, unranked Howard University surprised the Knights, 745-679.

 

“There were 19 other teams and fourth place in such a prestigious tournament is pretty good,” said Spratford of NJCU’s performance. “But to us, it’s more important with our [NCAA] matches. We’re still not [playing] up to our full potential yet. But the season is still young. We’re going to be working hard throughout the rest of the season to get back to where we belong.”

 

Spratford earned All-Tournament team honors after posting a six-game average of 202.67 and a six-game series of 1216 (197-192-192-201-222-212), with each game 192 or better and a high score of 222.

 

Sophomore JENN MARMO (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon), the only other NJCU player to bowl all six individual games, was 17^th overall in total pinfall at 1139 (193-172-182-246-178-168), for a 189.83 average. Her high game of 246 against Coppin was the top score for any NJCU kegler in the tournament.

               

Senior KRISTINA FIGUEIREDO (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) bowled five games and finished with a 928 pinfall for 53^rd place (163-178-180-0-195-212), for a 185.60 average. Sophomore CANDICE D’ANGELO (Coram, NY/Longwood (NY) also rolled five games for an 862 total (160-204-201-183-114-0) and 172.40 clip, finishing 66^th.

               

In three games, freshman NICOLE DREJERWSKI (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) performed well, averaging 189.00. She had games of 182-193-192 for a 567 pinfall, and was 92^nd overall.

 

Senior #AMIEÉ deNEUF# (Hamburg, NJ/Vernon Township) bowled the first, second and sixth games (155-169-191) for a 171.67 average. Her 515 pinfall placed 100^th.

 

Freshman KERRY SCHMIDT (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and sophomore ALLISYN YANUZZI (North Arlington, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) each rolled one game, tallying scores of 154 and 136, respectively.

 

Next on the NJCU schedule is the Jeanette Lee Invitational in Lawrenceville, VA on December 1-2.