University of Maryland Eastern Shore Claims Second National Title this Season

COLUMBUS, Ga. - It wasn't pretty but, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) overcame Lindenwood 2-1 to win the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITCs) and with it their second National Championship this season, claiming, unequivocally, the title of best women's college bowling team in the land.

"I'm still trying to feel if this is real or not," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "Knowing that our team is the champions in both events, there's no doubt anymore that we are the best team in the nation."

Last weekend, UMES knocked off Vanderbilt to claim their second NCAA Women's Bowling title and a week later hoisted the Kerm Helmer Cup at the Intercollegiate Team Championships, besting a third place finish in 2008, the first time they won the NCAA title.

This is the Hawk's first ITC title in their eighth appearance. They have participated every year since 2003 with the exception of 2007.

UMES' Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) barely converted the 3-6-9 spare in the final frame to beat Lindenwood, 164-158, in the deciding game. The Hawks dropped the opening game to the Lions, 182-156, before rallying back to win the second game, 189-183.

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2011 NCAA BOWLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: MARYLAND - EASTERN SHORE MAKES FINAL FOUR; IN TITLE HUNT

Past four NCAA championship teams remain in title hunt.  UMES to face Fairleigh Dickinson (2010 NCAA National Champs) today.



The top four seeded teams all remain alive with one loss heading into the final day of the 2011 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich. The four teams represent the last four NCAA champions in the sport and are the only schools to win the crown since the tournament began in 2004.

Top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson and second-seeded Nebraska advanced through the winner's bracket in their first two matches while Maryland Eastern Shore and Vanderbilt had to fight back through elimination matches.

The day wasn't without its drama, as FDU had to fend off Vanderbilt in an epic second-round match that went to a tiebreaker. The 192-192 tie in the first game set the tone for this match. After the Commodores posted wins in each of the next two games, defending NCAA-champ FDU answered with three consecutive wins. VU's 199-184 win in the seventh game left the teams each with 3.5 games through seventh forcing a tiebreaker. In the five-frame roll-off, FDU squeaked by with a 107-105 win to advance.

Saturday's matches include FDU (2010 NCAA champ) against UMES (2008) with the other semifinal pitting Nebraska (2009) against Vanderbilt (2007). Nebraska won it all the last time the championships were held in the Detroit area.



Semifinals begin at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday with the championship set for 3:40 p.m. A tape-delayed broadcast of the final round can be seen on ESPN on Sun., April 17 at 2:30 p.m.

Courtesy NCAA.com

SATURDAY: 10:40 AM CT, WATCH LIVE --UMES VS. FDU, CLICK HERE

HOW THEY GOT THERE: • Printable Bracket

UMES's Rodriguez named NCAA Division I Player of the Year

All-American Maria Rodriguez

DETROIT, MI -- Maria Rodriguez has a big hand in the success of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) women's bowling program and Wednesday she was recognized for it with the NCAA sport's highest honor.

Rodriguez was names the Division I Player of the Year by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) at the NCAA Tournament Banquet on the eve of the championship.

"What an honor," said Rodriguez. "I am truly humbled by this; it is great to be recognized by the coaches who have driven this sport to where it is. For me it justifies all the hard work, all the sweat, blood and tears that have literally gone into my college career. It is an awesome feeling."

Rodriguez is the first National Player of the Year UMES has ever had since becoming a Division I program and, along with teammate Kristina Frahm one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

"I am so proud of Maria," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "I know she feels vindicated. She gave up a lot to come here and start her bowling life anew but in the end it has been great for her and great for our program and university. She has been a driving force in elevating this program to the status we have today. She deserved this award."

Frahm joined Rodriguez as a First-Team All-American, the second selection of her career and fourth overall. Martha Perez was a Second-Team All-American and Anggie Ramirez earned her first All-American selection being named to the third team.

Rodriguez earned her third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year award earlier this season and finished with an average of 210.44. She was named to three All-Tournament Teams this season, was a MEAC Bowler of the Week and even had time to earn the honor of top bowler in her nation's Team Trials. She also earned her third All-MEAC award this season and posted the second highest pinfall of any women's bowler at any ISC sectional.

HAWKS SET FOR OPENING DAY OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Live Video | Tournament Central | 2011 UMES Post-Season Guide (NCAA)

TAYLOR, Mich. - Arriving in Detroit Tuesday night, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team got settled and prepared for the coming days and their pursuit of a second national championship in the last four years. For seniors Maria Rodriguez, Kristina Frahm and Martha Perez a title would mean a nice set of bookends for their careers. The three were freshman on the 2008 championship team.

The Lady Hawks arrived early at Skore Lanes on Wednesday to get in their 90-minute practice session and tested different shots, balls and positioning as well as reading the shot (the oil pattern laid down on the lanes the teams will bowl on for the event). Following their practice, each team member had to select and enter just five balls for tournament use, checking them in, having them weighed and even having uniforms inspected for championship play.

After a daunting trip to two different Target stores (the team had to purchase matching belts for competition), they settled in for some rest before the banquet that evening. After winning numerous awards, including four All-American honors, Rodriguez being named Player of the Year andFrahm earning the NCAA Elite 88 Award it was off to a team meeting and bed for the long day ahead.

By UMES Athletics

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VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

VISIT: UMESHAWKS

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Bowling Ranked No. 1

HACKENSACK, N.J.—It took 16 months, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Bowling Team has regained the number one ranking in the nation. The March poll of the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) featured a record breaking 21 members voting and eight of them cast the Lady Hawks as the first place team. Those eight votes, along with the other 13 voters gave UMES 566 total points and the top spot in the poll.

The move up is due to the recent play of the maroon and gray. They posted three straight tournament wins, collecting wins over many of the nation's top programs. They took home the hardware at the Lady Bulldog Classic, the Kutztown Invite and the Mid-Winter Classic. They took second place at the Holiday Classic, third at the Morgan State Invite and just won the USBC Chattanooga Sectional. The Hawks dethroned Vanderbilt who was the previous number one team. The Commodores collected eight first place votes themselves, but amassed 560 points, six shy of the UMES total. The Lady Hawk's schedule is one of the busiest in the nation as they sport an overall record of 93-26. That is 11 more wins than rival Delaware State.

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UMES Coach Sharron Brummell holds the Lady Hawks 2008 National Championship Trophy. The five-time MEAC Coach of the Year and the Lady Hawks will be seeking the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowling Championship, which will begin today, at 9 a.m. at the Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina.

2009-10 NTCA MARCH NATIONAL POLL
Rank Institution, City, State Season Record W - L 1st Place Votes Adjusted Point Standings

1. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 93 - 26 8 566 2
2. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 46 - 20 8 560 1
3. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ 60 - 25 3 519 4
4. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 61 - 25 2 432 8
5. Delaware State University, Dover, DE 81 - 24 415 3
6. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64 - 31 393 5
7. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 61 - 32 391 6
8. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 60 - 26 359 9
9. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 72 - 38 272 7
10. Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN 60 - 39 248 11
11. St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, NY 55 - 32 209 10
12. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 51 - 40 173 12
13. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 44 - 32 147 17
14. Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 39 - 34 123 13
15. Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL 47 - 20 112 16
16. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI 42 - 32 106 T14
17. Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA 38 - 22 75 T14
18. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 61 - 34 62 --
19. Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA 60 - 45 22 19
20. Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 52 - 48 18 20

Also receiving points:
St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ; Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC; Elmhurst
College, Elmhurst, IL, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Point system: NTCA voters rank the top 20 teams on their ballot. Each position has a designated point value,
ranging from 32 points for first place and one point for twentieth place. Teams are ranked using the
adjusted total point standings, after the highest and lowest votes are dropped. The specific point values
follow:
1st place = 32 points, 2nd = 29, 3rd = 27, 4th = 25, 5th = 23, 6th = 21, 7th = 19, 8th = 17, 9th = 15, 10th =
13, 11th = 11, 12th = 9, 13th = 8, 14th = 7, 15th = 6, 16th = 5, 17th = 4, 18th = 3, 19th = 2, 20th