Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
Northeast Conference Championship
SHU Bowling Clinches Third NEC Crown
3/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
MARCH 26, 2016 (Howell, N.J.)—The Sacred Heart women's bowling team survived three elimination matches before downing LIU Brooklyn in the championship match 4-1 to clinch the program's third Northeast Conference Championship Saturday at Howell Lanes in Howell, N.J.
Coming into the second day of the championship bracket with one loss, the Pioneers swept Saint Francis U (235-155, 198-192, 232-158, 240-190) to start the day and move on to the undefeated Blackbirds. SHU carried over the momentum from the day's early victory using four 200+ games to down LIU in six games.
Sacred Heart overpowered LIU to win game one 216-165, before losing the next two by less single-digits, 160-158 and 194-191 respectfully. SHU bounced back in the fourth to even the match at two games a piece with a 232-190 victory. Another 200+ game in game five proved the Pioneers were on a roll getting the 215-202 victory. Needing just one more W to force a decisive championship match for the second straight year, SHU came through downing the Blackbirds 205-182.
The Pioneers were having difficulty finding the pocket early in the first game of the final match. Amanda Nardiello got things going for SHU throwing the team's first strike in the fourth frame. Sacred Heart managed to close the scoring gap sending Lauren Hoffman up in the tenth needing at least a double and four pins to win. The pressure didn't get to the All-NEC second team selection who hit her shots to give Sacred Heart the 176-170 win.
"I just had a clear mindset and knew [the ball] had to come clean off my hand and down the lane," Hoffman said about her double.
LIU Brooklyn started the second game strong striking the first three frames, but the Pioneers again kept pace, and it was up to Hoffman again in the tenth. The junior anchor needed another double to close out the win for Sacred Heart. She threw her first ball for a strike, but couldn't get the 10-pin to fall on her second and the Blackbirds evened the match 179-173.
SHU took an early lead in the third game as LIU opened the first two frames. Once again, it was Nardiello who got things going for the Pioneers. The lone lefty on the team threw the first of five straight strikes as Sacred Heart filled six straight frames. Their ability to fill frames gave the Pioneers game three 224-193.
Sacred Heart carried over that momentum into game four as they opened the game with six strikes for an early lead as the Blackbirds stumbled early. The Pioneers went on to fill the first eight frames, throwing frames seven and eight for spares, for a big 224-144 win.
Just one win away from their third NEC crown, the Pioneers were sloppy in the beginning of game five leaving two of the first three frames open. The team grouped together coming back in one of the closest games of the match. Sacred Heart finished with a 161 putting pressure on LIU's anchor Tori Burkins to double in the tenth. The junior could not and the Blackbird's run ended with a 155 game.
The Pioneers came into the NEC Championship as the No. 2 seed after a 14-6 conference record during the regular season earned them a share of the Regular Season Championship. Getting a bye into the championship bracket, SHU dropped its first match to the Blackbirds 4-2 on Friday before defeating St. Francis Brooklyn 4-2 in its first elimination game.
Players Mentioned
