DURHAM, N.C. (March 21, 2011) — The Lincoln University bowling team saved its best day for the biggest stage.
On Saturday, the first day of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference Championships, the Lady Lions picked up three wins, matching a program high.
LU went 3-3 on the day with wins over Livingstone College (647-541), Saint Augustine's College (689-682) and Winston-Salem State (755-685).
The Lady Lions fell to Shaw (680-708), Johnson C. Smith (644-716) and Fayetteville State (610-824).
Lincoln has just one other three-win day in its history, the other coming on Feb. 5 at the CIAA Western Divisional Meet in Raleigh, NC. It also marked the first day in which the Lady Lions bowled above a 600 in every match.
Spearheading the day was Sarah Danaher (Waitsfield, Vt./Harwood Union HS) who averaged a 154.67. She and Tamia Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa./City Charter HS) each rolled a 186 against the Lady Rams in the lopsided win.
Shalisa Bethea (Newark, N.J./Saint Vincent Academy), the team's lone senior, bowled a 129 against Fayetteville State. Dion'Jalen Buie was consistent with her high being 145, which came against WSSU. She had three games in the 140s. Chantel Hamilton's 162 against Johnson C. Smith was her highest output of the days.
“Tamia stepped up a couple of games in there and helped us win a couple of games,” head coach Tim Lewis said. “Sarah was consistent. Shalisa, a right-hander, bowled the entire season lefty. Dion and Chantel, I'm proud of what they did too.”
The scoring for the day was odd. Only the top eight teams advanced to the semifinals, and that number was not based on the day's head-to-head record but rather total pinfall. Although the 3-3 record was more than enough to advance, the 4025 total pins put them in 11th of the 13 schools competing.
“It was a great experience,” Lewis said. “I know that the girls enjoyed the opportunity to be in the championships because it's something they didn't experience previously. I think it's going to help them know what to expect. It's a different pressure than a regular-season match because everybody's there and everybody's looking at you.”
Dejected by the unfortunate turn of events, Lincoln dropped all four Baker matches on Sunday, ending the season.
“Our win total was the same as last year, but we had more trials and tribulations this year,” Lewis said. “Without the trials and tribulations next year and the people coming back who weren't here this year, we'll be bowling next Monday competing for the championship.”
— LU —
