Huskers Finish Third in Louisiana

Kenner, La. – The top-ranked Nebraska bowling team wrapped up competition at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Invitational with a 3-0 showing and a third-place finish Sunday.

The Cornhuskers, who had been eliminated from championship contention following Saturday’s results, defeated No. 10 North Carolina A&T, No. 3 Stephen F. Austin and No. 5 Vanderbilt in best-of-seven Baker format matches at AMF All Star Lanes in Kenner, La.

No. 6 Sam Houston State defeated No. 2 Arkansas State in the championship match. The Red Wolves, who led the overall standings throughout the first two days of competition, had only lost one match before falling to the Bearkats, 4-2, in the final.

NU, which began Sunday’s bracket-play tournament as the fifth seed, faced off with sixth-seeded North Carolina A&T in the first match of the day. The Huskers defeated the Aggies in Friday’s Baker match, 962-874, and Saturday’s team match, 929-897, before following suit with a 4-0 sweep Sunday.

The Huskers then moved on to play fourth-seeded Stephen F. Austin in a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Championship match. The Huskers started fast and got out to a 3-0 lead before the Ladyjacks won games four and five. The Big Red put away the match with a 204-158 victory in game six to win 4-2.

Nebraska advanced to play third-seeded Vanderbilt for third place. The two teams split the first two games before the Huskers reeled off three straight wins to close out the match and defeat the Commodores 4-1.

NU finished the weekend with a total pinfall of 14,297, good for a 190.6 average in 75 games.

Briana Zabierek finished 15th in the individual standings with a 199.3 average. Gazmine Mason also helped lead the Huskers with a 192.7 average to finish 22nd overall.

The Huskers will return to the lanes Nov. 6-8 at the Crusader Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. NU won the tournament a year ago and has finished in the top three in each of the last five years.