WSSU Lady Rams Drop Consecutive Baker Matches; Eliminated From NCAA Women's Bowling Championship

Houston, TX - The Winston-Salem State University Lady Rams were eliminated from the NCAA Women's Bowling National Championship Tournament on Friday afternoon in Houston, TX as they dropped consecutive Baker Matches in the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The losses summarily ended the Lady Rams' quest for the first ever NCAA Women's Bowling National Championship title, but have put WSSU on the national bowling scene as one of only eight teams nationwide that participated in the first ever NCAA-sanctioned national bowling championship.

The Lady Rams, who entered the double elimination portion of the tournament as the number eight seed squared off against the International Bowling Congress 2003 National Champion Jennies of Central Missouri State University who were the tournament's #1 seed.

Despite winning the first Baker Game versus the Jennies, the Lady Rams fell short in the next four matches and were relegated to the loser's bracket portion of the tournament. However, the Rams put on a very good showing in the match and held their own against a team that is arguably the best intercollegiate bowling squad in the country.

WSSU stole the first game by the score of 190 to 162 but dropped the second and third games before falling in game five 188-158, and the final Baker Game 188 to 172.

Baker Match #1 (WSSU -vs- Central Missouri State): 
Game Number     WSSU       CMSU            Winner 
Game One                190             162             WSSU 
Game Two                146             200             CMSU 
Game Three             171             234             CMSU 
Game Four               158             188             CMSU 
Game Five                172             188             CMSU

With the loss, WSSU fell to the loser's bracket and were scheduled to face the #5 seeded Southern University Jaguars who lost 4-3 to #4 seed Farleigh Dickinson in their opening round Baker Matches.

The Lady Rams were swept by the Jaguars 4-0 as Southern University propels itself back into the winner's bracket and stays alive in the Championship. The Lady Rams are eliminated from the Championship and fall to 59-19 on the season.

Baker Match #2 (WSSU -vs- Southern University): 
Game Number     WSSU    Southern        Winner 
Game One                137             179             SU 
Game Two                181             191             SU 
Game Three             123             181             SU 
Game Four               133             213             SU 

"We were delighted to be here, especially at the first inaugural tournament, and we know that we will be here next year and the following years to represent our school and our conference," said WSSU Head Coach Leon Kay. "The level of competition was extremely high and there were no illusions on our part as to what we had to do to compete against these teams. We knew that coming in, and I am proud of what our girls did this season and this weekend in making history not only at WSSU but NCAA history. These ladies should be very proud of themselves and their school."

The Lady Rams return home to Winston-Salem, NC on Sunday afternoon and will return to action in the first weekend of October 2004 when they open CIAA league play