April 10, 2009
CANTON, Mich. - A second-round knockout wasn't what the reigning champion expected, but it happened nonetheless as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) fell 4-0 to sixth-seeded Central Missouri (CMU) and 4-1-1 to second-seeded New Jersey City University. The Hawks, seeded third after the opening day, officially finished seventh, the same position they finished the first three years of the tournament.
UMES opened the day flat. They left open frames and rolled subpar numbers against the Jennies of CMU. The match ended 4-0 without the Hawks taking a game (198-159, 184-169, 203-180, 212-176).
"I thought we were really off our game against Central Missouri," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell. Our ladies who normally throw strikes weren't striking and we getting some bad splits out there leading to open frames."
It did start to get better for the Lady Hawks as they took on second-seeded New Jersey City. The Gothic Knights also fell into the consolation bracket with a 4-3 loss to MEAC Champion Delaware State. NJCU came out and took an early 3-0 lead (208-200, 205-167, 169-163) before UMES battled back in game four, taking a 210-185 win. With the Hawks leading in the fourth frame, UMES had an open in the seventh frame, but NJCU left opens in the seventh and ninth frames as the Hawks secured the win.
They fought hard again in game five tying NJCU at 202. Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) had a chance to win that game but left a ten pin on the second ball of the tenth frame. She spared the frame and thus split the game, half to NJCU, half to UMES. In game six NJCU cranked up a series of spares to win 245-203.
"We had started to get it together a little bit," said Brummell. "It was just too little too late."
UMES is 1-2 against CMU and 0-3 vs. NJCU in the history of the tournament. They now stand 115-41 on the year.
NJCU advanced to take on Nebraska and would be eliminated 4-3. Nebraska then topped Delaware State in the semi-final round, giving the Hornets their first loss and forcing a rematch tomorrow. Fairleigh Dickinson, also in the winner's bracket fell to Central Missouri in the last round, forcing another play-off tomorrow. After the two matches the two winners will face off in the live television finale at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
"We did well to get here," summed up Brummell. "It is very tough to repeat as champions and we are very proud of the season we assembled and plan on being back again next year."
The season doesn't end for the Hawks just yet as they travel to Rockford, Ill to compete in the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships next weekend. That championship recognizes the National Champion for all club and NCAA eligible teams.
