TOWSON, Md. (Feb. 11, 2023)--The Morgan State Lady Bears are in 3rd place after Saturday's 5 traditional game matches. They have a total pinfall of 9,667 for their two days of competition for a 193.3 overall team average. They trail North Carolina A&T by 80 pins for 2^nd place.
 
Highlights of Saturday's Traditional Matches:
-Morgan State went 4-1 on the day, highlighted by a Game 5 victory against #6 ranked North Carolina A&T.
-Two players averaged over 200 for the games they bowled on Saturday: La'Monique Berrios averaged 207 for 5 games bowled and Cheyenne Washington averaged 203 for 3 games bowled.
 
Saturday's Traditional Matches:
#24 Morgan State 958, #18 Mount Saint Mary's 893                                                                                                        
The Bears got off to a strong start with a balanced attack against 18^th ranked Mount Saint Mary's. La'Monique Berrios led the Bears in scoring with a 226 game, Johnna Hill rolled a 199 game and Aliya Adams and Carrington Beaman scored 190 and 188, respectively.       
                                                                                      
#24 Morgan State 915, Medaille 832                                                                                                   
The next match saw scoring from two players carry them to victory against Medaille. Johnna Hill had the first seven strikes in a row en route to a solid 251 game to lead Morgan, and La'Monique Berrios continued her strong play rolling a 203 game.
 
#24 Morgan State 922, Saint Francis (PA) 878
Morgan State fell behind at the midway point of the match against the Red Flash and wasn't able to make a late game run. It was a tougher pair of lanes and Saint Francis did a good job of controlling the pocket and closing frames to defeat the Bears in Match 3. Two bowlers for Morgan eclipsed the 200 mark. Cheyenne Washington came into the line-up and led the scoring with a 215. La'Monique Berrios threw a 200 game which was her third game in a row with scoring at or over 200.
 
#24 Morgan State 993, Fayetteville State 897
The Morgan regained their focus in Match 4 with balanced scoring against Fayetteville State to take the win. Bears scoring: Carrington Beaman 232, La'Monique Berrios 215, Natalia Miranda Vega 191, Cheyenne Washington 188. Aliya Adams came into the line-up to finish strong in the match.
 
#24 Morgan State 990, #6 NC A&T 941     
In the final round of the day, #6 North Carolina A&T and the Lady Bears locked horns and bowled well through mid-match. It was then the Bears found strings of strikes and converted their spares to outpace the Aggies through to the end. Aliya Adams led the scoring with a 223, Natalia Miranda Vega hit the pocket 11 shots out of 11 attempts firing a 216, Cheyenne Washington contributed with a 206 game and La'Monique Berrios rolled a 191.
 
Here are the Traditional Averages for Morgan State for Saturday's matches:
La'Monique Berrios 207 for 5 games, Cheyenne Washington 202.8 for 3 games, Johnna Hill 197.25 for 4 games, Carrington Beaman 181.5 for 4 games, Aliya Adams 180 for 4 games, Natalia Miranda Vega 179 for 4 games and Naomi Smith 139 for 1 game.
 
Coach Falbo states about the day. "The ladies are coming into their own starting last month and bowling as well as anyone right now. Day 2 saw us average again in the high 190's as a team, with two important wins along the way. I'm proud of their work ethic and very strong showings. We'll stay believing in ourselves and give it our all tomorrow."
 
It was a special day at AMF Towson lanes prior to the action. Two Morgan State seniors were honored in the senior recognition ceremony. Aliya Adams will graduate in the spring of 2023 and has been with the program since the fall of 2019. Aliya is a 4.0 student and is the daughter of Aleathia Adams. La'Monique Berrios came to Morgan State in the spring semester of 2020. She is an electrical engineering major and the daughter of Raphael and Velsina Berrios. Both Adams and Berrios have served as team captains during their tenure.
 
Coach Falbo says about Adams and Berrios, "Aliya and Lamo hold a special place in every team member's heart. They provide an example of leadership and friendship that is invaluable to the life of our team. I wish them Godspeed beyond their days at Morgan and they will be missed."
 
Tomorrow the Bears enter Sunday's final rounds of bowling in third place. They will face Maryland Eastern Shore in the first traditional match of the day and the final traditional match of the tournament. There will be two rounds of Best 4-of-7 Baker play to follow to determine final tournament standings.