CROYDON, Pa. - - The Wilmington University bowling team closed out its first tournament of the 2020 portion of the schedule, placing 24th overall at the Northeast Challenge hosted by Long Island University and Sacred Heart at the AMF Bristol Pike Lanes over the weekend.
The Wildcats dropped three Baker Bracket matches on Sunday, slipping from 22nd to 24th to finish the tournament. The Wildcats played eight nationally ranked teams over the weekend, including the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams.
On Sunday, the Wildcats fell behind early in their first Baker Bracket match against first time opponent Tusculum. Down 2-0, the Wildcats rallied to take the next two games, including a match best 188-159 victory in game three. Now tied, 2-2, the Wildcats couldn't keep the momentum going, as Tusculum came back to take games five and six to move in the bracket with a final score of 4-2.
The Wildcats then squared off against familiar foe Chestnut Hill, and had their best game of the day to even the score, 1-1, with a 211-147 victory in game two. The Wildcats then bowled a 199 to take a 2-1 lead, but the Griffins answered back by winning the next three games to the match, 4-2.
In the final match of the weekend, the Wildcats jumped up to a 1-0 lead with a 161-131 win over Molloy. But the Golden Lions won the next three matches to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Wildcats fought back though, winning 176-136 and 176-174 to tie the match, 3-3, and force a game seven. But Molloy was able to squeak by the Wildcats, 147-134, to take the match, 4-3.
The Wildcats have the rest of January off and return to action on Saturday, February 1 when they head to Douglassville, Pennsylvania for the two-day event Molloy Bowl for the Cure.
AGATE:
Northeast Challenge Baker Bracket Matches:
Tusculum – 166-170-159-153-177-170 – 4
Wilmington – 136-141-188-176-150-150 – 2
Wilmington – 142-211-199-127-134-160 – 2
Chestnut Hill – 160-147-183-144-164-184 – 4
Wilmington – 161-165-172-168-176-176-134 – 3
Molloy – 131-177-197-194-136-174-147 – 4