NEW CASTLE, Del. – The No. 11-ranked Sacred Heart University women's bowling team returned from the holiday break by hosting the Northeast Classic on Friday-Sunday, Jan. 16-18, finishing 11th at the Bowlerama in New Castle, Del. 

The Pioneers took 11th in the stacked field that featured the top 14 teams in the National Tenpin Coaches Association December Coaches Poll. The Pios went 7-6 overall and were 10th in qualifying by averaging 197.7 pins over their first 10 matches. 

Sacred Heart kicked off play on Friday in baker play, going 4-1. SHU tallied nationally ranked wins over No. 9 Mount St. Mary's (Md.) (1,003-986) and No. 24 Delaware State (1,025-964). The Pios also defeated UAB and Howard, but fell to No. 23 Kutztown by 11 pins, 949-938, on the first day. 

Traditional play was not as kind to the Pioneers on Saturday. SHU went 2-3 on the day, defeating Morgan State (1,134-1,030) and Maryland Eastern Shore (964-930). Unfortunately for the Pios, No. 13 North Carolina A&T State, Dominican (NY) and Molloy came out on top of their matchups against Sacred Heart. 

As the 10th seed in the Sunday Championship Bracket, SHU started the day against No. 4 Nebraska and fell by a 4-2 final score. North Carolina A&T State got the better of the Pios in their second match of the weekend before Sacred Heart bounced back with a convincing 4-1 win over Felician in the 11th-place match. 

Junior transfer Morgan LiCausi led the way for the Pioneers with a 205.60 average over the five traditional matches, hitting 200 in three of the bouts. Karleigh LeMond also had an average over 200 at 206.25, as she had the most total pins of anyone who played in four traditional matches (825). LeMond's 224 in the win over UMES led SHU. 

The Pioneers will have a short break before competing at the Saints Invite, hosted by Maryville in St. Louis, Mo., on Friday-Sunday, Jan. 30-Feb. 1.