STRUTHERS, Ohio – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's bowling team opened its 2026-27 campaign with a 6-7 record and a 13th-place finish at the three-day Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic, hosted by Youngstown State University.
The Hawks competed against a competitive field of 18 teams, finishing the tournament with 12,984 total pins across 69 games while averaging 188.2 pins per game.
UMES began Friday's opening round with a 2-3 record, totaling 4,683 pins and averaging 187.3 pins per game during five Baker matches.
UMES opened the tournament against top-ranked Nebraska, falling 1,073-910 in its first match. The Hawks quickly bounced back in their second matchup, securing their first victory of the season with a 1,000-953 win over Sacred Heart.
In their third match, the Hawks put together another strong performance, posting 985 pins but ultimately falling short against Maryville University, 993-985.
UMES regained momentum in its fourth matchup, earning a hard-fought 898-885 victory over William Smith College to improve to 2-2 on the day. The Hawks closed out Friday's competition with a 911-890 loss against Duquesne University.
Returning to the lanes Saturday for five traditional matches, the Hawks added another 4,707 pins to their tournament total, bringing their two-day pinfall to 9,390 heading into Sunday's championship bracket.
Sydney Smoot led the way for UMES during Saturday's competition, recording 1,102 total pins across five games while averaging 220.40 pins per game. Her performance earned her an 11th-place finish among 124 competitors in the individual standings.
Mariane Almeida followed with a solid showing, finishing 37th overall after registering 970 total pins and averaging 194.00 pins per game.
Gabriela Becerra Diaz also contributed a strong performance for the Hawks, rolling a game-high 210 while recording a 904-pin series to secure 47th place in the individual standings.
Sofia Tosto Valenzuela rounded out the Hawks' top-50 finishers, posting a 210 in her opening game and averaging 179.40 pins per game throughout Saturday's competition.
On Sunday, UMES returned to the lanes for the championship bracket, entering the final day in 13th position. The Hawks opened bracket play against Niagara University before facing Valparaiso University in the second round.
UMES concluded its tournament in the 13th-place match against Niagara, earning a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven Baker format to secure its final placement.
The Hawks finished Sunday's bracket competition with 3,594 pins, bringing their three-day total to 12,984 pins and closing out their season-opening tournament with a 6-7 overall record.
