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April 11, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. - In one of the most exciting matches in the history of the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and Arkansas State University (UMES) went to an extra game to decide who stayed in and who left the winner's bracket. The second ranked Hawks proved to be the better team on this day as they got down to ASU 2-0 but rallied to tie the series at two. They got down 3-2 but tied the match and sent it to a crucial game seven. It wouldn't end there as UMES and ASU tied at 173. The Lady Hawks came out on top however, and won game eight to send the Indians to the loser's bracket. Heading into the deciding game seven the two teams went back and forth. Trading strikes and spares and occasionally leaving some nasty splits. However, it all came down to Jessica Worsley, the Hawks' anchor bowler. Worsley picked up a critical spare in the tenth and final frame to earn a third ball. She needed nine pins to win the match. Worlsey didn't get it. She got eight, tying the game at 173 and sending it to a final eighth game. That game was another back and forth match. ASU started on the left lane, one that accounted for almost 200 more pins than the right lane. UMES, however, wasn't deterred. They were exchanging blows with the Indians with neither team giving in a bit over the first four frames. However, it was Worsley who provided the biggest momentum of the match. In the fifth frame Worsley's first ball slid left of the pocket and what remained standing was one of the ugliest sights a bowler could see, a 4-7, 6-10 split. Leaving an open in the fifth, when ASU had already closed the frame, could have been disastrous for the Hawks, but Worsley went for the two right pins, kicked them up and knocked the seven into the four and spared the frame to a huge crowd eruption. There were cheers from the Hawk faithful, respectful praise from bowling fans and tournament officials, and sighs of disappointment from ASU fans. The ASU team had nothing else to do but offer Worsley high fives for the amazing shot.
The momentum from that spare carried the team and Laura Zanrucha, Kristina Frahm, Martha Perez and Maria Rodriguez continued to pound the Indians. Their momentum was gone and had shifted to the Lady Hawks who went on for a 185-171 victory. Overall the scores read 159-192, 166-209, 228-192, 213-181, 162-166, 214-149, 173-173 and the final 185-171. "That shot was huge," said Coach Sharon Brummell. "I have never seen anyone make that spare, ever, not in person, it was amazing." Brummell's team survived the spunky ASU team and now earns a bye until 6:20 p.m. ET when they play the winner of the University of Central Missouri and Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt edged Sacred Heart 4-3 in their second match of the day while Central Missouri fell to New Jersey City University (NJCU) 4-3. In other tournament news, two teams were eliminated after round two. The Pioneers of Sacred Heart and, a surprising elimination of the nation's number one team and tournament top seed, Nebraska. The Huskers lost 4-1 to eighth seed Central Missouri, 4-1 in the opening round and were shocked by Minnesota State-Mankato 4-0, in round two. That leaves the highest ranked team left in the field as #2 UMES. NJCU and UMES are both undefeated to date and have at least earned a trip to tomorrow. If either loses then they will play on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (ET). Win, and earn a trip all the way to the finals, televised live on ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. (ET). "I was so nervous," said Brummell of the last match. "They came through, this team is tough, mentally, and is capable of winning this whole thing. They just have to come out and do it." Don't forget to follow the action via live web streaming at www.NCAAsports.com |
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