KENNER, La. (Oct. 22) – The Florida A&M Women's Bowling Team opened the 2017-18 season with a strong performance over the weekend in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Invitational, hosted by Tulane University.
The Rattler Women posted an 8-5 record, good for a 10th place finish in the team standings, while Sam Houston (Tex.) State won the tournament with an 11-2 record.
Leading the way for FAMU individually was freshman Keondra Eaton, who made her collegiate debut in front of her home folks, compiling a 1,032 pinfall in five games for a 206.40 average.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native finished 16th overall on the individual leaderboard, bowling three 200 games: 205, 203 and a 244 against her hometown school, Southern University.
Sophomore Monique Ragland rolled 995 in five games for a 199.0 average, with a 222 high game, followed by freshman Bethany Noel, who turned in a 965 in five games, for a 193.0 average, with a 213 high game, and sophomore Demetria Bethel finished with a five-game total of 950, for a 190.0 average, with 217 high game.
Also competing for FAMU were sophomore Destiny Williams, who had a 181.33 average in three games, with a 200 high game, and sophomore Mikayla Davis, who had a 144.50 average in two games, with a 168 high game.
Teamwise, FAMU went 4-1 in Traditional play, topping Valparaiso, 937-877; Southern University, 963-885; Duquesne, 1,009-865 and Texas Southern, 920-888, while dropping a narrow decision to Stephen F. Austin, 970-950.
In the Baker Round, FAMU went 3-2, winning against Duquesne, 953-895; Alabama A&M, 780-633 and Prairie View A&M, 1,056-903, while falling to Louisiana Tech, 1,009-925, and Duquesne, 888-785.
The FAMU Women posted a 1-2 mark in three Extra Round matchups, defeating Duquesne, 1,436-1,313, before dropping bouts to Valparaiso, 1,144-1,009, and Duquesne, 1,257-1,105.
TOURNAMENT NOTES: Two FAMUans placed in the Top 30 among the Individual Leaders, Eaton (16) and Ragland (27th)… In the AllState Sugar Bowl Tourney, the Lady Rattlers had the fifth best win/loss record (16-Teams) against the nation's top twenty-five teams, which could garner them national rankings by the National Ten Pin Coaches Association.
WHAT'S NEXT: The FAMU Women return to the lanes on Saturday and Sunday, November 11-12, as they open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in the first MEAC Southern Divisional Tournament at Norfolk (Va.) State.
