Mount Joy, Pa. (February 21, 2021) – The Mount St. Mary's women's bowling team managed to take a win in the traditional format against defending regular season champion Sacred Heart before dropping two close losses in quint baker and baker best-of-seven.
 
No. 7 Mount: 935 | Sacred Heart: 915
 
Despite their lowest set of the day, the Mount would win the traditional format due to steady scoring from its lineup. While nobody wowed, a 200 each from junior Tamera Stanton and freshman Paige Boyd was enough to counteract some low scores on the Pioneer side.
 
No. 7 Mount: 960 | Sacred Heart: 1,034
 
Improving their score by 25-pins would not be enough against the 2019 NEC Bowling Champions. Taking an eight pin lead into the final two games, Mount faltered 218-183 and 204-157 to set up a best-of-seven rubber match.
 
No. 7 Mount: 2 (213-170-240-236-205-181) | Sacred Heart: 4 (159-174-259-190-223-211)
 
Out averaging Sacred Heart in the final match would not equate to a win, as the Mount fell 2-4 in the best-of-seven format. After a fast 213-159 win to go up 1-0, the Mount opened twice in two of their final three frames to lose game two by four pins. That would prove costly, as the Pioneers averaged over 220 in the final four games to send MSM packing.
 
"Like any sport, bowling is a game of inches and minimal room for error," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "While that is a great team we played today and they were the highest average team this weekend for a reason, we really missed opportunities to close doors. We had the lead after three games in quint baker and let that slip, then what looked like a for sure 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven slipped and ended up costing us as well."
 
"We bowled much better than yesterday, but unfortunately our record is not where we would like it. Simply put, we have put ourselves in a must-win situation next weekend to keep our season alive. The best teams find a way to respond to that. We will see what kind of team."
 
Outside of traditional play, the Mount was led by Stanton with a 22.00 baker frame average and Freshman Alyssa Alexander with a 21.00 baker frame average. The team will be back in action against three more NEC opponents (Fairleigh Dickinson, Duquesne, & LIU) next weekend in North Brunswick, N,J., to conclude their regular season.
 
NEC Standings
1. Fairleigh Dickinson, 8-1 (0.89)
2. Sacred Heart, 7-2 (0.78)
3. Duquesne, 6-3 (0.67)
4. Mount St. Mary's, 7-5 (0.58)
5. Saint Francis U, 5-4 (0.56)
6. Long Island, 4-5 (0.44)
7. St. Francis Brooklyn, 1-8 (0.11)
8. Wagner, 1-11 (0.08)