Tusculum bowling listed 32nd in NTCA Power Index

Tusculum bowling listed 32nd in NTCA Power Index

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team is listed 32nd in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association Power Index Rankings.  TU also has five of its bowlers listed in the NTCA Top-200 traditional averages for the nation (all NCAA divisions).

The Pioneers, who are competing in their inaugural season, have recorded 25 match wins in the fall including four victories over nationally-ranked programs to post a PIR rating of .52494, which is also the fifth-best in the East Coast Conference.  TU posted wins over nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial (twice), Delaware State and Tulane.

Tusculum freshman Raycine Mortensen (Las Vegas, Nev.) leads the Pioneers with her 190.77 traditional average which is seventh in the East Coast Conference and 69th in the country.  Mortensen was named the ECC Rookie of the Week for her performance at the Hammer Bearcat Open where she logged a top-20 ­finish. She bowled a season-best 239 in a TU win over Coppin State at the Stallings Invitational.

TU freshman Abbygale Hunt (Savannah, Tenn.) has a 181.35 average during the fall including a team-best 252 she bowled in the Pioneers' upset win over No. 14 Tulane (Oct. 19).  Her average is 23rd in the conference and 134th in the country. Hunt was named the ECC Rookie of the Week for her efforts at the Warhawk Classic as she bowled a 194.83 average and led the Black & Orange to a fifth-place finish.

Sophomore Erin Burkart (Marerro, La.) is 26th in the East Coast Conference and 137th in NCAA bowling with her 180.95 average. Her season-high 246 came at the Stallings Invitational in TU's victory against Coppin State.

Junior Tacey Ballen is 31st in the conference with her 178.14 average, which is also listed No. 154 in the country. Ballen, a native of Dayton, Ohio, bowled a season-best 210 against nationally-ranked Louisiana Tech at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Invitational.

Freshman Alexa Tieto rounds out the scoring for TU with her 170.59 average which is 40th in the ECC and 196th in the country. The Ocean, New Jersey product bowled a season-best 213 against Howard University at the Stallings Invitational.

Tusculum returns to action Jan. 24-26 for the Saints Invitational in Missouri.