HOWELL, N.J. (March 8, 2010) – The Kutztown University bowling team finished in fourth place at the ECAC Championship Tournament. The Golden Bears won two baker matches out of three on Sunday, earning an overall tournament record of 4-5.
Kutztown (55-45, 9-5), ranked 12th in the latest National Tenpins Coaches' Assocation (NTCA), earned wins against St. Peter's and 20th-ranked Morgan State. The Golden Bears dropped two matches to Vanderbilt (2), and their final match to Fairleigh Dickinson (3).
Kutztown beat St. Peter's in the four-game baker match 693-661. Jara Cohen (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) went 8-8 in filled frames and earned two strikes. Heather Shoemaker (West Milton, PA/Lewisburg) earned four strikes. Anchor bowler Kayla Jones (Johnstown, PA/Westmont-Hilltop) went 7-8 in filled frames and received four strikes in 11 attempts.
Kutztown won 701-682 against Morgan State. In filled frames, Cohen went 6-8 and earned five strikes. Jones went 5-8 for filled frames and received five strikes in 11 attempts.
The first match against Vanderbilt was a four-game baker match. Vanderbilt beat Kutztown 788-701. Cohen went 4-4 in filled frames and bowled two strikes. Molly DeMatties (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) earned three strikes and bowled 6-8 in filled frames.
The second match against Vanderbilt was Best 4-of-7 Baker Matches. Vanderbilt won all four matches. Jones went 7-8 in filled frames and earned seven strikes in 11 attempts.
In the final match of the day for the Golden Bears, Kutztown went 3-4 against Fairleigh Dickinson. Jones went 14-14 in filled frames and earned 14 strikes in 20 attempts.
"I was very proud of the way we battled all weekend on a very difficult lane pattern,” head coach Joe Ambrose said. “We were able to stay toe-to-toe with the Division I powerhouse teams in our sport.”
Shoemaker finished sixth in individuals and Jones finished in 11th on Saturday. On Sunday in the Baker Anchor position, Jones filled 84.7% of her frames bowled and had a 54.1% strike %.
"Jara had a streak on Sunday of 17-straight filled frames in baker over the course of three matches,” Ambrose said. “That is not easy to do.”
“We can compete with any team that we face,” Ambrose said. “Now the next step is to learn how to beat the higher ranked teams with more consistency. It comes down to making more quality shots & converting spares under pressure, which is what the high ranked teams can do.”
Kutztown will see the higher ranked teams this weekend, when they travel to Vanderbilt University for the Music City Invitational held in Nashville, TN. The three day tournament will begin on Friday, March 12. Tournament times have not yet been announced.
--KU--
Tournament Standings
1. Vanderbilt 9-1
2. Delaware State 6-3
3. Fairleigh Dickinson 7-2
4. Kutztown 4-5
5. New Jersey City 4-5
6. Adelphi 5-4
7. St. Francis 4-5
8. Morgan State 4-6
9. St. Peter's 4-4
10. Norfolk State 3-7
11. Long Island 0-8
12. Coppin State 0-0 (last minute cancellation)
Tournament All-Star Team School Total Avg.
Angela Reynolds Delaware State 998 199.60
Josie Earnest Vanderbilt 981 196.20
Tracy Ganjoin Fairleigh Dickinson 974 194.80
Al;exandra Stein St. Francis 973 194.60
Sara Litteral Fairleigh Dickinson 966 93.20
