Husker Bowlers Go for National Title on Saturday

Houston, Texas ? The Nebraska bowling team remained in contention for a national title late Friday after two rounds of the NCAA Championships.

The Huskers went 2-1 through the first three rounds of Baker-style best-of-seven games, defeating Maryland-Eastern Shore, 4-1, and Sacred Heart, 4-2, before falling 4-3 to Central Missouri State in the final match of the night.

In that match, the Central Missouri State won the decisive seventh game, 193-192. CMSU led the series 2-0 before NU rebounded to even the match at 2-2. The Jennies won the fifth game, 184-173, before the Huskers forced the seventh game with a 246-150 victory.

"Things didn’t go the way we hoped today, but we still have a real good shot of winning the title if we bowl as we did today," Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said "We had a shot to win in the 10th frame, but they got the strike they needed to win. They (CMSU) are performing very admirably."

The Huskers will face the winner of Saturday’s first elimination match between New Jersey City University and Fairleigh Dickenson, with the winner needing two wins over Central Missouri State to claim the NCAA title.

The finals will be televised on ESPN2 Sunday afternoon beginning at 1p.m.

2004 NCAA WOMEN'S BOWLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
DOUBLE-ELIMINATION FORMAT
ROUND 1:
#1 Central Missouri State def. #8 Winston-Salem State, 4-1
#4 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #5 Southern, 4-3
#3 Sacred Heart def. #6 New Jersey City University, 4-0
#2 Nebraska def. #7 Maryland Eastern Shore, 4-1

ROUND 2:
Winner's Bracket
#1 Central Missouri State def. #4 Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3
#2 Nebraska def. #3 Sacred Heart, 4-2

Loser's Bracket
#5 Southern def. #8 Winston-Salem State, 4-0 (Winston-Salem State Eliminated)
#6 New Jersey City def. #7 Maryland Eastern Shore, 4-0 (Maryland-Eastern Shore Eliminated)

ROUND 3:
Winner's Bracket
#1 Central Missouri State def. #2 University of Nebraska, 4-3

Loser's Bracket
#6 New Jersey City University def. #3 Sacred Heart, 4-1 (Sacred Heart Eliminated)
#4 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #5 Southern, 4-1 (Southern Eliminated)

-- Huskers --