HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - - Sydney Jones set a new six-match traditional record as the Wilmington University bowling team finished fourth overall at the New Jersey Open on Sunday afternoon at the Hamilton Lanes.
The Wildcats dropped their two best-of-seven baker bracket games to finish fourth overall but qualified second after an outstanding showing in six traditional matches over the course of Saturday and Sunday.
Wilmington again produced a 1,000-pin match on Sunday morning to wrap up its six traditional matches, defeating Bloomfield, 1,072-879. The Wildcats moved up to second overall with the total pinfall heading into the Bracket play.
Sydney Jones moved up to second overall in the individual standings as well, finishing her six-match traditional total with a 245 against Bloomfield, ending with a 1,351 six-match total for a 225.17 average.
Although the five-match traditional score is more standard, tournaments do feature the six traditional match format as well. Jones' 1,351 is a new program record for the Wildcats, besting teammate KC Miller's 1,220 (203.33 average) from the Hawk Flight Invite last season.
KC Miller bested her own six-match traditional score, finishing fifth overall with a 1,293 total pinfall, a 215.50 average. She was right with Jones in the match against Bloomfield, bowling a 244 to move up into fifth and earn All-Tournament Team.
Desiree Dent bowled a 181 against Bloomfield and finished with a 1,269, bowling a 211.50 average for the tournament. She placed eighth overall, making it three Wildcats inside the Top 10.
Carolece Henry closed her traditional matches with a 222 against Bloomfield, moving up to 23rd overall. She bowled a 1,156 total pinfall with a 192.67 average. Genna Closs bowled a 180 against Bloomfield and finished 28th overall with a five-match total of 945, bowling a 189.00 average.
Fairleigh Dickinson's Allysha Howard won MVP honors after bowling a 256 in her sixth match Sunday morning. She collected 23 more pins over six matches than Sydney Jones to finish first overall.
The Wildcats then squared off against No. 24 Morgan State in the first best-of-seven bracket match. The Wildcats tied the match, 1-1, with a 224-167 win and then tied it again, 2-2, with a 233-194 win in game four. But the Bears won the final two games, including game six, 215-202, to move on to the Championship match.
Playing for third place, the Wildcats face Monmouth in the final match of the day. The Wildcats won the first game, 192-151, but then the Hawks won the next two games to take a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats won game four, 234-193, and took the lead once more with a 201-157 win in game five, 3-2. But the Hawks answered back with wins in games six and seven to take third place.
Fairleigh Dickinson won the tournament by sweeping Morgan State, 4-0.
The Wildcats have one final tune-up prior to the CACC Tournament, as they will host the Northeast Region Roundup on the weekend of March 18-19.