Greensboro, NC- This weekend the North Carolina A&T women's
bowling team will do something it normally doesn't get to do - bowl at home.
The Aggies will host the MEAC Southern Division #1 Invitational Tournament. The
tournament will take place at Gate City Lanes in Greensboro Nov. 12-13.
The tournament starts Saturday
morning at 8. The teams return on Sunday at 9 a.m., to conclude the tournament.
Both days will be streamed live on ncataggies.com.
"It means a lot to have a home
tournament," said N.C. A&T head coach James Williams. "We don't have as
many home opportunities as the other sports, so when we do have one it's a big
deal for us.
The Aggies come into this weekend's
tournament 10-16 overall. This will be their first opportunity to compile conference
wins, however. The Aggies have some impressive wins over S.C. State this
season, but will have to contend with the tough competition from the Southern Division.
"You would like to think that just
bowling at home gives us an advantage," said Williams. "But that advantage has
nothing to do with the lanes or the bowling alley. The advantage would come
from the fans cheering and pushing the ladies to higher levels.
This group is learning how to feed
off each other's positive energy," he added. "The more positive energy the
better they bowl. So for us to have a real home advantage, we need an abundance
of fan support."
The MEAC is one of the best bowling
conference in the nation. Norfolk State leads the MEAC South with a 10-3
record, followed by N.C. Central (16-10), Bethune-Cookman (10-9) and Florida
A&M (7-7). The Aggies are led by April Terry's 174.5 average. She has
bowled a 227 this season, while teammate Amber Brown has games of 201 and 224.
"The ladies are overly excited
about this weekend's tournament," said Williams. "I think they have had the
date circled on their calendars since I gave them schedule. They really want to
do well and prove some doubters wrong.
Williams added that this weekend
will prove to be entertaining. Every frame is crucial to the outcome of the
tournament.
"In my opinion, bowling is the
ultimate individual team sport," said Williams. "Five individuals have to
function as one, while still staying true to their individuality. Every shot is
important."
Every fan is important too.
