DEVON, PA. (February 17, 2009) – Featuring more twists and turns than a suspense novel and more thrills than an amusement park roller coaster, the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania’s, 713-710, exciting bowling victory over rival Cheyney University at Devon Lanes Tuesday afternoon was literally good to the last drop, or in this case, the final roll. (PHOTO GALLERY)
With Lincoln trailing by 15 pins, Lincoln sophomore Tahirah Stewart’s mission was simple: mark and earn a third ball in the tenth frame of a tight and tense match.
Stewart knocked down eight pins on her first roll. Two pins on the right side (closest to the gutter) remained standing. Stewart removed her black glove. She took a deep breath along with four steps and released the ball from her sweaty right hand.
When the ball left Stewart’s hands, it appeared that the match, along, with the ball, was headed down the gutter. After yelling at the ball as it started traveling away from its intended targets, the ball suddenly curved sweetly like a boomerang into the two pins for a spare. On the final roll of the match, Stewart got eight pins to lift Lincoln to the pulsating victory.
In a match that was the bowling version of the hit action movie, “The Bourne Supremacy,” Stewart finished with a 129 for Lincoln, which also won the best-of-seven Baker match, 4-3. Junior Stacey-Ann Smart led Lincoln with a match-high 189 and junior Dania McCarthy added a 136, which featured a huge strike in the 10th frame on her first ball. Junior Lamontez Grant, who finished with a 136, got plenty of divine intervention on her strike. Nine of the 10 pins fell, but one pin clipped another and toppled the other pin like a domino. Emily Valdez scored 123 for Lincoln, which won its 12th match of the season.
“I had confidence in Tahirah because she likes pressure,” Grant said. “I can take it, but I rather not have that type of pressure. That ball was crazy. For her to yell at the ball was interesting to see. This was a team victory for us and I am glad we stuck together and remained focused.”
Everybody’s best was needed as Cheyney and Lincoln treated the spectators to a memorable afternoon of quality bowling. The match was tied, 585-585 entering the final frame. The Wolves, celebrating Senior Day, turned in their best effort of the season in rolling a 710. Lincoln, which had defeated Cheyney twice this season entering the match, could not shake the Lady Wolves.
Three Cheyney players finished with season-high pin totals highlighted by Sherri Wilson’s team-high 156. Alisha Barnes finished with a 151 for Cheyney while Layana Wilson-Carter and Tomyra Beverly each scored 137 to establish season highs.
Cheyney forced Lincoln to rally following an impressive tenth frame that saw Bennett and Wilson each roll consecutive strikes to keep the pressure on and earn a third ball. Each team answered strikes with strikes and spares with spares.
As each bowler stepped to the lane, hearts skipped a few beats, breaths became shorter, and sweat poured down the faces of the participants. Some could not watch while others tossed a blue powder ball in the air or nervously waved a green towel back-and-forth.
“I knew Cheyney would come to play,” Lincoln coach Tim Lewis said. “We bring out the best in each other. I expected a tough game and both teams deserve credit for performing at a high level today. They really pushed us. I am glad we had a good 10th frame and pulled it out.”
The foundation of Lincoln’s victory was established in the ninth frame as four of its five bowlers marked, which helped the Lady Lions absorb Cheyney’s strikes in the 10th frame. Valdez, Grant and Smart picked up spares while McCarthy rolled a strike in the ninth. That became huge as Cheyney mounted an impressive rally.
“Seeing Cheyney go strike after strike in the last frame, I got down for about five seconds,” Grant said. “They were rolling doubles. I was like we need to pull it together.”
Trailing, 323-208 after five frames, Lincoln appeared to take control as it marked on nine of 10 trips to the lane in the sixth and seventh frames. However, Cheyney refused to go down without a fight as the Lady Wolves answered with eight of their 16 strikes over the final three frames.
“I was proud of how my young women competed today,” Cheyney first-year coach Michael Blakeney said. “We have improved significantly from the beginning of the season. It was a good match.”
Lincoln concludes its 2008-09 season at Virginia State University on March 6-8 in the final CIAA East-West match-ups.
NOTES: The Baker match proved to be just as exciting. Cheyney overcame a 3-1 deficit to force a deciding seventh game. In the final game, Lincoln marked in five straight frames to finally subdue Cheyney and earn the victory. …This was the eighth time this season, Lincoln rolled a 700 or better. …Smart topped 180 for the third time this season. …Lincoln improved to 3-1 all-time against Cheyney.
Lincoln 713, Cheyney 710
Lincoln: Stacey-Ann Smart 189, Lamontez Grant 136, Dania McCarthy 136, Tahirah Stewart 129, Emily Valdez 123
Cheyney: Sherri Wilson 156, Alisha Barnes 151, Tomyra Beverly 137, Layana Wilson-Carter 137, Destinee Bennett 129
Baker Results
Game 1: Lincoln 121, Cheyney 77
Game 2: Cheyney 127, Lincoln 104
Game 3: Lincoln 126, Cheyney 106
Game 4: Lincoln 199, Cheyney 145
Game 5: Cheyney 152, Lincoln 85
Game 6: Cheyney 127, Lincoln 115
Game 7: Lincoln 152, Cheyney 103