D'IBERVILLE, MS – Southern University's bowling team came into day two of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Round-Up 2 at Cypress Lanes in D'Iberville, Mississippi with a two game lead in the standings, and after going 3-2, held on to that same lead heading into the final day of competition. Southern (42-33, 17-7) matched its conference wins from a season ago and will look to get to 20 to secure the title.
 
"We finished the day the way we started, with a two game lead," head coach Barry Doyle said. "After winning our first three matches, we extended the lead to four. We had two tough matches to end the day. The ladies are performing well as a team and I could not be more proud of them"
 
The Lady Jaguars got things started early in the day with a 940-870 win over Prairie View A&M. Nyla Wilson led off the scoring with a high game of 232. Kelsey Quinney put together a strong 188 and she was followed by Alanna Coward with a 181. Jailyn Rogers finished off the win with a 178.
 
Southern was able to pull away from Florida A&M late in the game for a 933-888 victory. The Lady Jaguars were led by Quinney with a 204, followed by Rogers at 195. Lindsey Ugas stepped up her game and contributed a 189. Coward would finish with a strong 181.
 
Alabama A&M would be the next victim on the Lady Jaguars push towards a title. Southern would come away with an 895-814 win, matching the conference wins from last season with 17. Coward found her grove on the way to a team high 211. Rogers and Quinney followed her with a 190 and 184, respectively.
 
Southern came into its game against Alabama State looking to claim at least a share of the regular season crown but the Lady Hornets had other plans. Rogers and ASU's Savanna Razor are the top two bowlers in the conference, but both struggled to get the pins to fall early in the matchup. Both were able to find their mark in the second half, but ASU was able to come away with the 922-855 win. Rogers finished with a 195, Quinney followed with a 183, and Coward had 171.
 
The Lady Jaguars looked to turn things around in the final game of the day, but Jackson State had other plans. JSU was able to turn the away the Lady Jaguars by a score of 927-822. Rogers was the high SU bowler with an 180. Quinney and Wilson both followed with a 170 apiece.
 
Southern just needs two wins on the final day to clinch at least a share of the title. Three wins will give the Lady Jaguars the outright crown, their first conference championship since 2011.
 
"We have to start and finish strong," Doyle said about the final day. "One day left, four matches left. The girls know what is at stake to fulfill our destiny. I expect them to come out firing on all cylinders tomorrow."
 
Rogers continues to hold on to second individually with a 4,817 for 24 games, giving her a 200.71 average. She is almost guaranteed a spot in the top five to give her first team SWAC honors for the second year in a row. Coward is on the cusp of breaking into the top five, she currently sits sixth with a 4,291 for 22 games, a 195.05 average. Quinney is only 40 pins back, 1.92 in average, of 10th for second team honors. She sits in 14th with a 4,500 for 24 games, 187.5 average.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Jaguars looks to take home the SWAC regular season trophy on Sunday when things kickoff at 9 a.m. They take on Texas Southern, Grambling, Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. All tournament games can be seen on the Southern Lady Jags Bowling Facebook page.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports (Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com.

#GoJags    #ProwlOn   #SouthernIsTheStandard   #WeAreSouthern