Jan. 24, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Vanderbilt went just 3-2 in team game play Saturday but is still leading the Ozark Invitational by a hefty margin based on pin fall.
The Commodores lead Arkansas State by over 250 pins with two team games left to play Sunday. After the team games are complete, the eight teams are bracketed for Baker play to determine the champion.
“We once again began a little slow but we figured out the shot eventually,” said Coach John Williamson. “The shot required you to be precise and we are pretty good at that.”
Vanderbilt has the top three bowlers in the tournament, led by freshman ace Brittni Hamilton at 207.6. Tara Kane is in second at 201.8 and Michelle Peloquin is third at 201. They are the only bowlers cracking the 200 average.
Ashley Belden, thought to be red-shirting until this event, came in midway in the opening game against Central Missouri and threw five straight strikes to keep the struggling `Dores in the match, one they would eventually lose by 11 pins when the Central Missouri substitute anchor converted a low percentage spare.
Williamson also had high praise for Kane, the steady senior from Pennsylvania.
“Tara has been rock solid the last few tournaments,” Williamson says. “She would be leading this tournament if not for some single pin spare misses. She is a very valuable player, she brings leadership and a consistency that is hard to equal.”
Team Leaderboard
Vanderbilt 4,908
Arkansas St. 4,644
Minnesota Mankato 4,625
Vanderbilt’s Saturday Results
Central Missouri 964, Vanderbilt 953
Brittany Garcia / Ashley Belden 215
Michelle Peloquin 201
Tara Kane 191
Brittni Hamilton 170
Josie Earnest 176
Arkansas State 937, Vanderbilt 934
Belden 173
Peloquin 180
Kane 226
Hamilton 190
Earnest 175
Vanderbilt 997, Grand Canyon 873
Belden 192
Peloquin 183
Kane 195
Hamilton 243
Earnest 184
Vanderbilt 937, Fontbonne 729
Belden/Karen Grygiel 158
Peloquin 209
Kane 180
Hamilton 191
Earnest 199
Vanderbilt 1,087, Elmhurst 849
Grygiel 212
Peloquin 232
Kane 217
Hamilton 254
Earnest 192
