Bearkats Finishes First Half Of Season At No.10

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston stands No. 10 in the National Ten Pins Coaches Association December rankings for NCAA Division I women’s bowling.

The newly released rankings reflect play in tournament competition across the nation during the fall semester.

The Bearkat women compiled a record of 44-21 during the fall, competing in five tournaments.

Sam Houston won the Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. and were the runner-up at the Tulane Classic in the fall schedule’s opening event.

The Bearkats also finished fifth at the Nebraska Big Red Classic and seventh in both the New Jersey Jamboree and the Valparaiso Classics.

Sam Houston posted 15 victories in their 34 matches against teams ranked in the preseason NTCA top 20 including wins over Arkansas State and Central Missouri, the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively in the December poll.

“The fall half of the schedule was a learning curve for our talented young roster,” SHSU head coach Brad Hagen said. “We have a lot to build on in the spring.”

Arkansas State garnered the top spot in the rankings with a 31-11 record. Maryland-Eastern Shore, Central Missouri, Fairleigh Dickinson and Stephen F. Austin round out the top five.

Nebraska, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Vanderbilt, Kutztown and Sam Houston are ranked sixth through tenth, respectively.

Since debuting in the NTCA national rankings on December 18, 2010, during the program’s inaugural season, Sam Houston’s women’s bowlers have been ranked among the nation’s top 10 in every poll.

The Bearkats earned berths in the NCAA Elite Eight in both 2011 and 2013.

Twice the Kat bowlers have been ranked as high as No. 5