JONESBORO, Ark. --- The Tusculum women's bowling team posted a 2-3 record to open the Mid-Winter Classic including a thrilling six-pin victory over 20th-ranked Lewis University on Friday.
The Pioneers posted a five Baker-game total of 4,625 pins and are 14th place. The three-day, 18-team tournament is being hosted by Arkansas State and features 13 teams listed in the latest NTCA National Top-25.
Tusculum opened Friday's action with three losses including a 1065-972 slugfest against eighth-ranked Stephen F. Austin, a 1187-935 decision against No. 3 Nebraska and an 888-806 loss to Drury.
TU bounced back with an 894-776 victory over Alabama A&M as the Pioneers led wire-to-wire.
In the final match of the day against Lewis, the Pioneers jumped out to a 211-119 lead after the first game but fell behind by 26 pins after the second game as the Flyers posted a 214-176 score. But Tusculum answered with a 236-164 tally in the third and a 227-199 score in the fourth to go up 850-776 in the match. Lewis made it interesting in the final game with a 236-168 decision, but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers held on for a 1018-1012 victory.
Nebraska leads the tournament with 5,475 pins and are 66 pins ahead of second-place and 22nd-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater (5409). Sacred Heart, the No. 19 team in the country, is third with 5,230, followed by Stephen F. Austin (5213), No. 5 Louisiana Tech (5209), No. 13 Maryville, Mo. (5147), No. 7 Arkansas State (5049), Lewis (5025), No. 1 McKendree (4990), No. 9 Youngstown State (4988), No. 15 Tulane (4822), No. 21 Lincoln Memorial (4762), Alabama State (4714), Tusculum (4625), Jackson State (4521), Drury (4505), Kentucky Wesleyan (4426) and Alabama A&M (4010).
The Pioneers will play five traditional scored games on Saturday, followed by Baker 7-Game pool play on Sunday.
Friday Scores
#8 Stephen F. Austin 1065, Tusculum 972
#3 Nebraska 1187, Tusculum 935
Drury 888, Tusculum 806
Tusculum 894, Alabama A&M 776
Tusculum 1018, #20 Lewis 1012
