STRATFORD, N.J. (Feb. 7, 2021)-The Morgan State Lady Bears bowling team took to the lanes on Friday at 30 Strikes for the first time for the 2020-21 season, competing in five matches of five-game Baker total pinfall rounds in the Northeast Classic hosted by Chestnut Hill College.
 
Morgan State went 0-5 on the day facing three nationally ranked teams with two of those teams being ranked in the top 10. For the day, Morgan State averaged 164.2 for each Baker Game. This is 10 pins better than their start from a year ago, and three pins better in the same format in their last event of the 2019-20 season, the HBCU Invitational where they averaged 161.2 in the same format.
 
"Although we took a small step in the right direction scoring-wise, this is not where we want to be. This group of ladies is better than the scores we shot on Friday," said Morgan State head coach Thomas Falbo. "It comes down to consistency in hitting your mark and taking care of easy spares. With that said, this team has been through much in the month of January and has only had two practices together as a full group. The resiliency and drive of this team will up our focus in practice for cleaning up the unforced errors and set out to see higher scoring."
 
Natalia Miranda Vega (Bogota, Columbia) who joined the Lady Bears just days ago, led Morgan State in Baker frame average with a 17.78.
 
Match Scores – 5 Game Total Pinfall Baker
 
Morgan State – 842
LIU – 871
Only a 3^rd game 115 held Morgan State back from putting themselves in the position to beat a strong Northeast Conference opponent.
 
Morgan State – 790
Duquesne – 926
The Dukes were able to fill frames on a tough pair, which was the difference over the 50 frames bowled.
 
Morgan State – 825
Delaware State – 965
Delaware State was consistent in filling frames and putting strikes together. Morgan was able to average 187 on the left lane, but were unable to find consistency on the right lane during this match.
 
Morgan State – 786
Coppin State – 825
The Lady Bears held a slight lead going into the 5^th Baker Game. Then on the lane where they had their highest scores, MSU struggled while Coppin was able to do enough to finish to get the win.
 
Morgan State - 862
North Carolina A&T – 964
In their best scoring match of the day the Morgan ladies were more confident in moving deeper to the area of the lanes, and the results in their scoring show it as this was their highest set on the day. As the lanes break down, the track or outside of the track is too inconsistent. Moving left is a must to have fresh oil to get it to the breakpoint. This is one of North Carolina A&T's strengths and it showed in this match.
 
Next up for Morgan State is their home tournament, the James Brown Invitational at AMF Country Club Lanes in Baltimore, Md. on February 12-14, 2021. There will be teams with the majority of them again being nationally ranked to make it for an exciting event.