April 14, 2011

Photo Gallery | NCAA Day 1 Video Recap

TAYLOR, Mich. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) were a little up and down in the win/loss column today but they ended on a high note, topping Arkansas State 1102-936 to earn a 4-3 record and the third seed in tomorrow's double-elimination bracket.

They will take on the same Red Wolves team, who earned the sixth seed overall, tomorrow beginning at 9:50 a.m.

After a startling upset loss to Kutztown, the Lady Hawks got it together, dominating the Red Wolves by 160 pins in the final match of the seeding round. National Player of the Year Maria Rodriguez led the charge throwing an impressive 266 made up of nine strikes and two spares. She topped the ASU anchor by 72 pins.

The Red Wolves never really got on track with no one rolling better than a 195, that coming in the fourth spot. That didn't matter however, as Kristina Frahm matched up against her and posted a solid 226, 31 pins better. Anggie Ramirez, inserted back into the lineup, posted a 236 in the third position, 56 pins better than the 180 ASU got there.

Paula Vilas and Martha Perez were a little off on the broken down oil but managed solid games in a 191 and 183 respectively.

Frahm, who threw eight strikes in the game finished the day as the leader in total pinfall, posting an impressive 1582 for a 226 average.

"I threw the ball well today," said Frahm in an interview with the NCAA. "I got a couple of breaks and the ball felt good leaving my hands all day for the most part. Hopefully I can keep it going for tomorrow, I feel really good about where my game is right now."

Frahm wasn't the only one throwing the ball well. Rodriguez finished third in the standings with a tally of 1533 pins and an average of 219.

"Those two did what our fourth and fifth bowlers are supposed to do," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "They were on their games and even when they struggled, they were still solid, they have done this for four years now, and it's why they are First-Team All-Americans."

The two helped UMES to the best total pin fall after day one, 7,390, 95 more pins than top-seeded FDU.

"I wish it was still based on total pins," Brummell said with a smile, referring to past championships where the seedings were based on pin fall , not win/loss record. "We still had one of the three winning records today and the highest pins, it's like everybody brings their best against us, and every time we lost it was their highest or second highest pin fall for the day. While it isn't a factor in seeding I think it shows that we were bowling well all day and I was pleased with our overall performance."

A quick glance of the individual standings shows what Brummell was talking about. While the Hawks made lineup changes throughout the day, six UMES players were ranked in the top 18 in average in a field of 56 student-athletes who saw action as a starter today. Ramirez in just two games averaged a 210, while Perez and T'Nia Falbo averaged a 207.6. Vilas averaged a 204.9.

Fairleigh Dickinson earned the top seed and will take on eighth seeded Kutztown tomorrow. FDU sported an impressive 6-1 mark but that blemish belonged to the Hawks when UMES topped the Knights in the morning session, 995-945. The two teams are ranked second and first respectively in the latest NTCA poll.

In other seedings, Nebraska earned the two spot and will take on seventh seeded Sam Houston State, Vanderbilt, who rebounded from a 1-4 start, will be the fourth seed and take on the fifth seeded Jennies of Central Missouri.

"I think we can be bowling on Saturday if we stay on track," said Brummell. "I am looking forward to a good day. We know we can beat anybody here because we have. We can strike with the best of `em and I feel confident heading into tomorrow."

All of Friday's matches will be streamed live on NCAA.com. Tickets are available through NCAA.com or the Skore Lanes box office at (313) 291-6220.