MILLSBORO, DEL. - The LIU Brooklyn women's bowling team went 3-2 at the UMES Hawks Classic on Saturday at Millsboro Lanes, with two of the wins coming over Northeast Conference foes. The Blackbirds (21-16) carried a 196.0 average in traditional bowling on the middle day of the tournament to rank in 12th place. The tournament, hosted by Maryland-Eastern Shore will conclude with Sunday's bracketed playoff, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
In the first match, sophomore Stephanie Judkins threw a 211 to lead the Blackbirds to a 962-910 win over No. 20 Duquesne, to get the day going in the right direction. LIU fell in the second and third matches on the day, falling 1025-946 and 1036-908 to No. 12 Sacred Heart and No. 14 Lincoln Memorial, respectively. But one huge bright spot was a season high 246 by sophomore Sarah Florence, who had been injured to start the season, making her return to competition on Friday.
The Blackbirds got back in the win column in the fourth match, topping No. 8 Delaware State, 1006-917, as they eclipsed the 1000+ mark for the first time this season. In the match three 'Birds threw 200+ games, led by sophomore Kellie Frain with a 216, while senior Kayla Johnson was right behind with a 212 and Jennifer Roback scored a 205.
LIU closed out with a 1078-1045 win over new NEC foe Mount St. Mary's in their highest scoring match of the day. Frain again led the charge with a 246, followed by junior Tyler Karpinecz (225), Johnson (219) and Roback (210), as the Blackbirds climbed up to 12th place in the standings, after beginning the day one spot lower.
Overall, the Blackbirds were 6-3 (188.3 average) through the first two days of the tournament with 13 teams in the field ranked in the NTCA Coaches top 25. LIU will start Sunday's bracketed playoff (best-of-seven baker format) with a rematch against Delaware State at 8:30 a.m.