Jan. 27, 2008

JACKSON, Miss. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Bowling East Round-Up ended Sunday afternoon, with Jackson State and Southern finishing first in their respective divisions.

Jackson State took over the top spot from Alabama A&M University, after beating the Bulldogs in competition today. The Lady Tigers knocked down 896 pins, while AAMU bowled an 862. JSU is 8-1 in the conference, 18-6 overall. The Bulldogs are 19-5 overall, 7-2 in the SWAC. The two teams will be advancing to the 2008 SWAC Women's Bowling Championship Tournament, along with Alabama State, to represent the Eastern Division. The Lady Hornets finished in third place, with a 7-17 overall record, 3-6 in conference standings. Mississippi Valley finished fourth in the East with a 1-23, 0-9 SWAC record.

In the Western Division, Southern University still holds a commanding lead, but suffered a blow in their previously undefeated conference record. The Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M University handed the Lady Jaguars their first SWAC loss. PVAM beat SU 915-890. The Lady Panthers went on later in the competition to defeat in-state rival, Texas Southern, 843-836. That win gave Prairie View the second place position alone, with a 16-8, 8-4 SWAC record. This is the first time the Lady Panthers have advanced to the championship tournament. Texas Southern will be the third team to advanced with an 11-13 overall, 7-5 conference record. Grambling State finished in fourth place with a 12-12, 4-8 conference record. Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished in last place with a 3-21, 0-12 conference record.

The top bowler of the round-up was Grambling's Damona Richard. She knocked down a total of 2,707 pins. She was followed by Jackson State's Ashley Blakley, with 2,680 pins and Alabama A&M's Whitney Smith finished third with 2,614 pins.

The 2008 SWAC Women's Bowling Championship will be held on February 22-24 at the Holiday Bowl Fun Center in Bessemer, Alabama.