Complete Stats
Durham, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's bowling team finished fifth out of 11 competing schools at the 2010 CIAA Championships held March 19-22 at the AMF University Lanes. Last season, JCSU finished ninth at the championships with a field 10. This meet completed the season and junior
Sasha Thornhill (Lynchburg, VA) earned All-Tournament honors with an average of 191.40.
The championship was set up as a double elimination seeding bracket. JCSU entered as a No. 5 seed. In the opening, the Lady Golden Bulls fell to Virginia State 4-2 to slide to the loser's bracket. Johnson C. Smith defeated divisional foe Shaw University 4-2 to advance. Johnson C. Smith faced VSU again after the Lady Trojans dropped their match to Elizabeth City State 4-1.
Virginia State proved to be the stumbling block and JCSU suffered another defeat 4-2.
Third seed Bowie State downed defending champion and No. 2 seed Elizabeth City State 4-2 Monday to claim the league crown. The championship round was a rematch from last season. The Lady Vikings regrouped to beat the Lady Bulldogs twice for the 2009 CIAA title after the Lady Bulldogs sent them to the elimination bracket.
On Monday, both teams met again in the finals after the Lady Bulldogs knocked the Lady Vikings out of the winner's bracket. Needing two wins for the title, the Lady Vikings handed the Lady Bulldogs their first loss in the bracket format and forced a second match.
The Lady Vikings won the first game in the second match, but the Lady Bulldogs recovered to claim the title. The turning point was the fifth match when Diggs bowled a spare for a 180-175 victory for the Lady Bulldogs.
Thornhill had the fifth highest individual bowling average out of the entire tournament. Verra Diggs of Bowie State, Allie Parks and Tiffany Johnson of Elizabeth City State, and Jessica Styers of Fayetteville State complete the All-Tournament Team.
Senior
Nijah Braddox (Brooklyn, NY) finished 12th in the individual ranking, averaging 178 in five matches.
