ARLINGTON, TX – Southern University (50-47, 17-11 SWAC) brushed off a sluggish start to claim the third seed at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship tournament held at the International Training and Research Center. Four Lady Jaguars would finish in the top-15 in the individual standings.
The Lady Jaguars could not get anything going their way in the first game against Texas Southern. TSU has had Southern's number all season and this game was no different. SU would fall with their lowest score of the day, 807-890.
Kelsey Quinney was high with a 182 while
Nyla Wilson was the only other Lady Jaguars in the 170s with a 178.
Quinney would go on to have her best tournament of the season finishing with a 941 for a 188.2 average. This would be her first top-25 finish and almost breaking into the top-10 when she placed 11th.
"We got off to a slow start the first game, but I think the nerves settled in," Head Coach
Barry Doyle said. "My girls started to bowl like I knew were capable of doing."
The Lady Jaguars made the adjustments needed towards the end of the first game and it paid dividends in the second game. Taking on the regular season champions Prairie View A&M, SU was able to put together three games over 200 and defeated PV for only the second time all season 993-884.
Jailyn Rogers was high with a 226. Wilson and Quinney were the other games in the plus at 221 and 211.
Hannah Grather followed with a solid 183.
"I am super proud of how they showed composure and resilience today," said Doyle.
Southern has bowled Jackson State more than any other team on their schedule for a total of 16 games and a 12-4 record against them. The 17th was not in favor of the Lady Jaguars. The Tigers were able to string enough strikes together at the end to squeak out the game 953-950. Grather was the only Lady Jaguar over 200 at 214. Wilson shot 196 and
Kymberly Jackson was right behind her with a 195. Quinney finished at 173, while Rogers had a 172 to round out the scoring.
Going into the final two games of the qualifying round, the Lady Jaguars found themselves sitting in third, 60 pins behind PV for second. Southern was only 4-4 against Florida A&M but took the lead in the season series by claiming a huge 957-872 victory. Grather continued to find her stride, leading the Lady Jaguars with a 225. Rogers was the other SU bowler in the plus at 219. Quinney was third with a 189 and Wilson had a 175.
Alabama State came into the last game of the day leading the tournament and continued their hot streak against Southern. ASU would take the game by a decisive margin 1049-899. Rogers shot her third 200 with a 215. Quinney would finish out her performance with a 186. Wilson stayed consistent with a 171.
The Lady Jaguars would have four bowlers inside the top-15 for the first time all season. SWAC Freshman of the Year, Rogers would lead the charge with a 996 for a 199.2 average, which was good for seventh. There was a three-way tie for 11th and all three bowl for SU. Grather and Wilson would tie Quinney's series of 941, 188.2 average.
"Hopefully, we come out the gate striking tomorrow and put ourselves in position to win it all," Doyle said.
Qualifying as the third seed, the Lady Jaguars will take on sixth seed TSU. The winner of that game will take on second seed Prairie View. The loser will fall into the lower bracket and take on the loser of the other opening match between JSU and FAMU.
All of the weekend's games will be shown live on BowlTV beginning at 9:30am.
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