Lady Wildcats Bowling Closes Out a Productive February - Bethune-Cookman Official Athletic Site

B-CU has been progressing in bowling during February, notching two tournament trophies and great experience agains top teams

March 1, 2010

Call Bowling Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Lady Wildcats return from the road this past weekend, having traveled to Bessemer, Ala. for the Annual Holiday Classic, hosted by Alabama A&M. Although the record might not be where the team would like to be, the challenge was definitely there. In the Holiday Classic, B-CU faced six teams in the top twenty in the field. The outcome of this tournament is also not indicative of where the team has been in the new year. The Lady Wildcats have shown great progress and had excellent success in the month of February, facing off with non-conference competition.

This past weekend, at the Holiday Classic, the Lady Wildcats finished with an overall record of 3-9 in tournament games. B-CU grabbed wins against Grambling and Mississippi Valley State. Valoori Poovey led the Lady Wildcats on the lanes, earning the tournament honor of Team MVP, while bowling a high game of 241 and an average of 168.17. Melonie Mitchell wasn't far behind, averaging 167.5 with a high of 212. Jazmin Sutherland rounded out B-CU's top bowlers with a 160.5 average and a high of 189. As a team, the Lady Wildcats finished 10th in the Classic.

On February 20-21, the team traveled to conference school Morgan State for a non-conference tournament, in the Morgan State Invitational, finishing with a record of 4-6. The Lady Wildcats struggled to earn wins in Team play, but played well in Baker competition, collecting a 3-2 record. B-CU notched wins against North Carolina Central, Long Island, and Howard in Baker play, while besting Morgan State in Team play. The Lady Wildcats were led by Jazmin Sutherland, who finished with high of 214 and an average of 173.8. Newcomer Carlene Murphy closed out the tournament with a 170.8 average and high of 206.

For the Valentine's Day weekend, B-CU was in Orangeburg, S.C., hitting the lanes at the S.C. State Bulldog Classic. The Lady Wildcats wrapped up the tournament with a record of 4-5, collecting a third-place finish in the Classic. B-CU collected wins from North Carolina Central and Winston-Salem State in both Team and Baker play. Leading the team, Carlene Murphy collected a 170.5 average and high of 200, while Chelsea Squillacote averaged 168.0 with a high of 207, and both Jazmin Sutherland and Melonie Mitchell each chipped in a 163.8 average.

Opening up the month of February, B-CU crossed the state for the FAMU Rattler Invitational, facing off with several hot southern teams, and one of the top club teams in the country. In one of their best recent tournaments, the Lady Wildcats finished with an NCAA record of 6-3, collecting wins from Winston-Salem State and Florida A&M. The Lady Wildcats advanced to the championship final after defeating FAMU on their own lanes in the semifinal, with a seven-game 4-of-7 Baker shootout. B-CU fell in the final to club team Florida State, winning second place in the tournament over MEAC Southern division rival, FAMU. Leading the Lady Wildcats on the lanes, rookie bowler Melonie Mitchell notched a 181.3 average and a high of 202 to step up as the top scorer for B-CU. Chelsea Squillacote topped out at 211, but finished with an average of 173.0, while Valoori Poovey recorded a 171.75 average and 204 high in one of her first tournaments of the 2009-10 season.

The Lady Wildcats are still going strong, but are without a competition until mid-March. The final regular season tournament, for the conference championship begins on March 19, in Greensboro, N.C. They coaching staff and ladies are looking to make some tweaks and improvements during the time off to make a statement in the MEAC on tournament weekend.

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