WILMINGTON, Del. - - The Wilmington University bowling team opened the 2024-25 season with a sixth place finish at the Bud Whitman Memorial Tournament, bowling on its own lanes at Bowlerama on Saturday and Sunday.
The Wildcats competed in five traditional matches on Saturday, going 3-2 overall but were sitting in eighth place in the standings with a total pinfall of 4,509 for a 180.4 game average. They improved on Sunday with a 185.73 per game average in three Baker style matches, qualifying seventh overall into bracket play with a 7,295 total pinfall in the eight matches.
The Wildcats went into bracket play and dropped the first game to Alvernia, 192-177, but then bounced back by winning the next four to claim the match, 4-1. They moved onto the fifth place game against Felician, and held a 2-1 lead after three games. a 192-132 victory in game five gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead, but the Golden Falcons answered with wins in games six and seventh to finish in fifth place, 4-3, dropping the Wildcats to sixth overall.
On Saturday, the Wildcats were led by senior Logan Brown's 11th place finish with a 1,007 five-match total. She had an afternoon's best 226 in the opening match against Delaware State, but also bowled a 214 in the final match against Sacred Heart and a 205 against Coppin State.
Graduate student Sydney Jones had three games over 200 as well, finishing in 15th overall with a 987 for a 197.40 average. She had an afternoon's best 214 against Alvernia on Saturday, adding a 206 against Coppin State and a 200 against Howard, all victories for the Wildcats.
Sophomore Miranda Dudas started the day with a 221 against #23 Delaware State, finishing in 29th overall with a five-match total of 893 for a 178.60 average. Genna Closs had a high of 190 against Alvernia, placing 29th overall with an 853 for a 170.60 average. Junior transfer Abigail Crumb bowled a day's best 187 against Alvernia, finishing in 52nd overall with a 769 for a 153.80 average.
Fairleigh Dickinson's Allysha Howard topped the leaderboard on Saturday with a 1,101 for a 220.20 average, bowling four of her five matches with a score of 225 or greater.
Nationally ranked No. 20 Fairleigh Dickinson defeated No. 18 Sacred Heart, 4-2, to win the Bud Whitman Memorial Tournament on Sunday.
The Wildcats are right back in action next weekend, as they travel to Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, to compete in the Golden Bear Invite hosted by Kutztown University. The competition starts Saturday morning at Berks Lane.
Traditional Scores:
11 – Logan Brown – 226-185-205-177-214 – 1007 – 201.40 avg
15 – Sydney Jones – 184-214-206-200-183 – 987 – 197.40 avg
29 – Miranda Dudas – 221-161-181-145-185 – 893 – 178.60 avg
39 – Genna Closs – 162-190-154-169-178 – 853 – 170.60 avg
52 – Abigail Crumb – 109-187-122-180-171 – 769 – 153.80 avg