Feb. 2, 2008

JONESBORO, AR - After the first day of the 2008 Mid-Winter Invitational at Arkansas State, the Sacred Heart women's bowling team went 5-0 in head-to-head competition but stands in fourth place out of 18 teans in total pinfall, averaging 977 per game. The Pioneers are six pins behind third-place Fairleigh Dickinson, 113 behind the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in second, and 128 behind first-place Nebraska.

The 5-0 day extends the SHU winning streak to 17 straight matches, and puts them at an impressive 24-2 since the start of the semester.

Freshman Sarah Pelletier led the team in its perfect match play. In match one, Pelletier shot 246 while Jamie Manzo added a 237. Senior Amanda Lulu had a 226 and Jaime Smith added a 222. Add in a 191 from Marissa Gagliardi 191 and the Pioneers put up a season-high game of 1122 in a victory over Morgan State University.

In match two, the Pioneers knocked off Fairleigh Dickinson 927-852. Pelletier shot the team's high game of the day, 254, in the next match against Delaware State 915-893. The team finished up the day with a big finish to a tight match, 944-896 over the University of Minnesota-Mankato.

Pelletier is leading the strong 104-bowler field with a 221.2 average. Smith is 13th at 198.4 and Gagliardi is right behind her with 197.0 in 14th place.

Matches resume Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers take on Prarie View A&M, Florida A&M, #4 ranked University of Central Missouri, Alabama A&M ranked 9th by the national coaches associaiton and 12th ranked Jackson State University.