TOWSON, Md. – Coppin State's bowling team finished 11
th of 15 schools and had six bowlers average at least a 173.40 at the James Brown Invitational over the weekend at AMF Towson Lanes. The Eagles stood 12
th in the team standings entering Sunday's bracket play but got victories over MEAC rivals Morgan State and Norfolk State to jump up a spot.
CSU picked up a pair of wins during Baker play on Friday, recording victories over Norfolk State, 830-755, and Virginia State, 759-742. The Eagles fell in matches to Bloomfield (930-736), Mount Aloysius (872-755) and 13
th-ranked Sacred Heart (917-754).
Saturday's traditional matches featured a pair of clashes with nationally ranked teams and following a tough loss to Chestnut Hill (811-773), Coppin fell to 14
th-ranked Mount St. Mary's, 969-801 before being edged by No. 24 Wilmington, 904-897. The Eagles closed out the day with victories over Howard (989-858) and Bowie State (900-858).
In the individual standings,
Jazzleen McRea had the highest finish, taking 32
nd overall out of 94 bowlers with 867 total pins in five matches (173.40). After struggling in the opening traditional match against Chestbut Hill, McRea regrouped with a 179 against Mount St. Mary's before rolling a 197 against Wilmington and a 196 against Howard. She closed out her day with another 179 against Bowie State.
Raja Anderson finished with a 179.50 average, hitting 718 pins in four matches to finish 52
nd overall. Anderson closed out traditional play with a 175 against Wilmington, 202 versus Howard and a 188 against Bowie State.
Kaylah Castillo also competed in four matches and totaled 709 pins for a 177.25 average to finish 55
th. Castillo's best performances came with a 216 against Howard and a 188 versus Wilmington.
Aushia McLean rolled the highest match for the Eagles all season as she bowled a 235 in Coppin's victory over Howard. She followed up with a 184 against Bowie State and finished the tournament with a 179.67 average in her three matches.
Competing in just the first three traditional matches,
Nia Turner got better in each, opening with a 170 against Chestnut Hill, 172 versus Mount St. Mary's and 192 against Wilmington.
This weekend marked the return of freshman
Sydney Tyler who tallied a 176.00 average in three matches. Tyler opened and closed her day with identical 189 scores against Chestnut Hill and Bowie State.
Mya Hamlett averaged a 155.00 in her three matches which included a high score of 180 against Mount St. Mary's.
Coppin heads to the Sunshine State to compete at MEAC Meet #2 on February 21-23 at Cordova Lanes in Pensacola, Fla. The second MEAC meet will help determine the eight teams that qualify for the conference championship on March 20-22 and the Eagles currently sit in sixth place out of 11 MEAC squads.
