Huskers Finish Second at SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Invite

Houston, Texas - Top-ranked Nebraska's bid to win three consecutive tournaments to begin the 2017 calendar year fell just short, as the Cornhuskers fell to No. 3 McKendree 4-1 in Sunday's championship match at the SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Invitational at Copperfield Bowling Center in Houston, Texas. The Huskers went 10-3 on the weekend with a total pinfall of 13,742, defeating eight ranked teams in the process.

NU has now finished in the top-three at the SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Invitational in each of the past three seasons.

In the championship match, McKendree won each of the first two games, before Nebraska responded with a 194-177 victory in game three. The Bearcats won games four and five to clinch the championship and an 11-0 record on the weekend.

The Huskers clinched a spot in the final by taking down No. 7 Stephen F. Austin by a score of 4-2. The two teams split the first four games, but NU won game five by a score of 219-205 and edged the Ladyjacks by just one pin in game six, 226-225.

In the opening round match, McKendree took down Nebraska, which began the day as the second seed, by a score of 4-2.

Julia Bond led the way for the Huskers in the individual standings, finishing second overall with a staggering average of 228, her highest of the season and the fourth-highest average of her career. Gazmine Mason finished fifth overall with an average of 219, while Kelly Belzeski finished 12th with an average of 208.2.

Nebraska will return to action next Friday through Sunday at the Crusader Classic in Richton Park, Ill. NU has finished in the top three at each of the last six editions of the Crusader Classic, winning in 2010 and 2014. The Huskers finished third at the tournament last season.

SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Invitational Final Standings
1. McKendree
2. Nebraska
3. Sam Houston State
4. Stephen F. Austin
5. Arkansas State
6. Wisconsin-Whitewater
7. Maryland-Eastern Shore
8. Vanderbilt
9. LIU Brooklyn
10. Prairie View A&M
11. Delaware State
12. UAB
13. North Carolina A&T
14. Youngstown State
15. Tulane
16. Monmouth
17. Sacred Heart
18. Maryville
19. Texas Southern
20. Louisiana Tech
21. Jackson State
22. Lincoln Memorial
23. Southern

SFA Stormin' Ladyjack Invitational
Houston, Texas - Copperfield Bowling Center
Friday, Feb. 10 - Five-Game Baker Format Matches - 4-1 Record
1. #1 Nebraska 950, Maryville 878
2. #1 Nebraska 1,008, #10 Sacred Heart 894
3. #1 Nebraska 1,143, #21 UAB 1,045
4. #3 McKendree 1,026, #1 Nebraska 981
5. #1 Nebraska 1,028, #24 Youngstown State 961
Saturday, Feb. 11 - Traditional Team Matches - 5-0 Record
1. #1 Nebraska 970, #9 Maryland-Eastern Shore 945
2. #1 Nebraska 1,014, #12 Monmouth 849
3. #1 Nebraska 1,075, #8 Delaware State 912
4. #1 Nebraska 1,176, #18 North Carolina A&T 937
5. #1 Nebraska 1,072, Lincoln Memorial 852
Sunday, Feb. 12 - Best-of-Seven Baker Format Championship Tournament - 1-2 Record - Second Place
Opening Round:  #3 McKendree 4, #1 Nebraska 2
Semifinal Match: #1 Nebraska 4, #7 Stephen F. Austin 2
Championship Match #3 McKendree 4, #1 Nebraska 1
Huskers in the Individual Standings (Average)
2. Julia Bond (228)
5. Gazmine Mason (219)
12. Kelly Belzeski (208.2)
19. Raquel Orozco (204.6)
21. Meghan Straub (201.6)