Lady Hawks battle Vanderbilt to the wire
UMES second in NCAA bowling
APOPKA, Fla. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) came within 48 pins of winning their first NCAA national championship Saturday here at the NCAA Women's Bowling Championships.
The Lady Hawks took Vanderbilt University (73-14) to the limit, forcing a game seven in the best-of-seven baker series. They rebounded from being down two games to none to tie it at two games each. After the third seeded Commodores won game five, UMES responded with a game six win before falling in game seven, 198-150.
"I am heartbroken," said UMES Head Coach
Sharon Brummell. "But I am not upset. We
bowled great this weekend and made it to the first ever NCAA National
Championship in program or school history. How can I be upset?"
The UMES finish follows a similar national runner-up result for Alabama A&M last season. The A&M Lady Bulldogs lost to Fairleigh Dickinson.
Fifth seeded UMES (94-21) fell behind quick in the match, going down two games to none. Three pins separated the two teams in the opening game (167-164). Vanderbilt put the hammer down in game two topping UMES 242-166.
"We fell behind early," said Brummell "But I told the girls, we didn't come here on national television to get blown out in four games. I told them to bowl like they have all weekend."
The finals aired live on ESPNU Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and were televised by tape delay Sunday on ESPN2.
In game three, the Hawks got back on track topping Vanderbilt 202-154. They bowled that game from the right side lane, one that put up much better scores than the left. In game two the Commodores rolled the 242 on the right side.
Game four wasn't kind to Vanderbilt (74-14) either, as UMES took the win 170-148.
The fifth game seemed to be going the Hawks way at the start
as they hit "a ridiculous four-pin spare to open game
five," said Ira Thor, the tournament's
official statistician. But that game didn't finish UMES' way
as Vanderbilt won 224-180. The seventh frame appeared to
be the Hawk's undoing as they left it open, leaving two pins
and leaving the door open for the Commodores to win the game.
In game six, the Hawks came rolling back and posted a huge lead going into the eighth frame behind four straight strikes. They would add two more to make it six in a row and easily tie the match at three games apiece, winning 235-178.
Game seven was all Vanderbilt as they kept just ahead of the Hawks the whole way. A missed ten-pin on a spare meant that both teams were headed into the sixth frame not marking on a mark (strike or spare) and Vanderbilt up by eight pins, 72-64.
The game ended 198-150 in favor of the Commodores. They win their first National Championship in Women's Bowling and UMES would take home the second place trophy.
"I said when we came in that we wanted to finish better than seventh," said Brummell. "I think we meant that goal. I wanted one of those trophies (which go to the top four teams) and there is only one better trophy to get. I can't be upset at all. I am so proud of these young ladies. My hat is off to Vanderbilt; they bowled great today and in the final game were just a little better than us."
The loss marks the end of a career for two seniors, Megan Raymond and Kristie Minnis, who, as seniors, went farther than any Hawk bowler before them.
The Hawks finish the season 94-21. The most wins of any UMES bowling team. "We will be back again," said Brummell. "We will keep at this and hopefully, very soon, bring home an even bigger trophy."
UMES' Jessica Worsley was named to the all-Tournament team.
BOX SCORE
(3) Vanderbilt def. (5) Maryland-Eastern Shore , 4-3 (167-164, 242-166,
154-202, 148-170, 224-180, 178-235, 198-150)
© 2007 Azeez Communications, Inc.