April 9, 2004
Houston, TX - The Lady Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) bowed out of the NCAA Championships today, falling to Nebraska 4-1 and New Jersey City 4-0. This wasn't before they made a name for themselves, rolling the first 300 Baker game in NCAA Tournament history.
The Lady Hawks, although out of the field of eight, finished in seventh place, but have an incredible season to be proud of. UMES entered the tournament ranked eighth in the country in total pinfall and have been ranked in the top ten of several other national polls.
"We made the first ever NCAA Championship field, one of eight teams in the country, we made the IBC Championships for the second straight year [which the Lady Hawks bowl in next weekend], and rolled the first 300 Baker game in the history of NCAAs," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell.
That game is extremely rare. It is not only the first ever game recorded in NCAA Bowling Tournament competition, but is so rare that "in ten years of professional team bowling only one was recorded," said one writer from The Bowling Journal.
The Lady Hawks entered day two in seventh place and stayed there after bowling a combined 11,071 pins. That seven seed forced UMES to bowl Nebraska in the opening round. The Huskers took that series four games to one. (211-142, 197-178, 171-183, 237-193, 217-214) That loss pushed the Lady Hawks to the loser's bracket where they took on New Jersey City, who was swept by Sacred Heart in round one. The Gothic Knights repaid the favor, taking out the Lady Hawks four games to none (212-132, 174-148, 189-178, 167-134).
The Lady Hawks will stay in Houston, TX for the finals tomorrow, which will be taped for air on ESPN2 on Sunday at 1:00 PM. They then prepare to close out their season and the career of lone senior Victoria Gay, in Tulsa, OK, at the IBC Championships
QUOTES FROM POST TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE:
Head Coach Sharon Brummell:
"It was a huge highlight for us." (speaking of the 300 Baker game)
"I am not a bit surprised we made it here."
"I know that we were bowling with the best teams in the country, we are one of them, and I know what my team is capable of, and I am very proud of what they have accomplished, very proud of each of [the young ladies]."
"We will be back next year, our goal is to be here each year."
"We had strikes all the way around, Vicky has been our anchor bowler all year long, and she has been there throwing [strikes] all season. (referencing the 300 game) She has been awesome."
Senior and Anchor Bowler, Victoria Gay:
"Getting ready to bowl in this tournament was a lot of work. It was worth it. We had to find time to get our school work done ahead of time, check all our equipment, practice....we put a lot of hours in and have no regrets."
"The highlight of the tournament was bowling the 300 Baker game, that was the best part."
"The lanes today were different; the spot you thought you were throwing to for the ball to hook had changed and today that spot made it go straight." (In reference to knowing when you could complete the 300 Baker game)..."It started when one of us had to use the restroom, she said we had to bowl 300 to get all strikes so she could hurry up and get to the restroom. That was Megan Raymond. That is how it all started, it was a set-off, one person got a strike and the next person kept the momentum, we fed off of each other, Once one person got a strike we stayed in it and everyone was up, the spirit was great on the lanes, we were there for each other."
"I was nervous as the anchor [on the 300 game], and everyone got quiet, but then coach told everybody to get loud, once they got loud I was fine, it more nerve racking when everyone was quiet."
Sophomore Maryetta Lewis:
"It was a lot of work (referring to tournament preparation), but if you think about it, we are one of the best eight teams in the country, although we lost today, we had a great experience, and no one can ever take away our participation and that 300 game."
"Bowling on the lanes today, as opposed to yesterday is not only an equipment change, but a mental change. You have to take in account lot of things." (referencing the difference in lanes form day one to day two)
"After the first five I knew we had [the 300 game]."
