Huskers Win Crusader Classic

Richton Park, Ill. - For the third time in seven seasons, the top-ranked Nebraska bowling team has won the Crusader Classic, this time taking down second-ranked Arkansas State in seven games in the championship match on Sunday to cap off a 12-0 weekend at Lakewood Bowl in Richton Park, Ill. The Cornhuskers posted a total pinfall of 14,016 on the weekend and defeated a total of eight ranked teams.

No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater finished third overall, while No. 11 Central Missouri came in fourth place.

Illinois native Julia Bond finished first in the individual standings and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament with an average of 220. The tournament win was the fourth of her career and her first of the season. Kelly Belzeski earned the first top-10 finish of her career with a 212.5 average to finish sixth overall, while Briana Zabierek, a Lockport, Ill., native, finished ninth with an average of 205.

In the final, the Red Wolves took the first two games before the Huskers responded to win games three and four. Arkansas State won game five, before NU put up a staggering 286 to win game six and used momentum gained from that game to win the final game, 212-208.

NU took down Wisconsin-Whitewater 4-1 in the opening round of the best-of-seven Baker format championship tournament to reach the final.

The Huskers began the day with a 983-971 win over Central Missouri in a traditional match to wrap up the round-robin Baker and traditional rounds undefeated.

Nebraska will return to action next Friday and Saturday at the Central Missouri Mid-American Invitational in Kansas City, Kan. Friday's action is scheduled to start at noon (CT), while Saturday's competiton will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Crusader Classic Final Standings
1. Nebraska
2. Arkansas State
3. Wisconsin-Whitewater
4. Central Missouri
5. Tulane
6. Youngstown State
7. Elmhurst
8. Maryville
9. Lincoln Memorial
10. Valparaiso
11. Aurora

Crusader Classic
Richton Park, Ill. - Lakewood Bowl
Friday, Feb. 17 - Five-Game Baker Format Matches - 4-0 Record
1. #1 Nebraska 1,101, Lincoln Memorial 923 
2. #1 Nebraska 1,028, #23 Valparaiso 856
3. #1 Nebraska 1,004, Maryville 916
4. #1 Nebraska 1,125 (Bye)
5. #1 Nebraska 963, Elmhurst 789
Saturday, Feb. 18 - Traditional Team Matches - 5-0 Record
1. #1 Nebraska 1,055, #2 Arkansas State 922
2. #1 Nebraska 1,039, Aurora 790
3. #1 Nebraska 977, #14 Wisconsin-Whitewater 972
4. #1 Nebraska 1,023, #24 Youngstown State 965
5. #1 Nebraska 1,094, #13 Tulane 971
Sunday, Feb. 19 - One Traditional Team Match, Two Best-of-Seven Baker Format Matches - 3-0 Record
1. #1 Nebraska 983, #11 Central Missouri 971 
Semifinal Match: #1 Nebraska 4, #14 Wisconsin-Whitewater 1
Championship Match: #1 Nebraska 4, #2 Arkansas State 3
Huskers in the Individual Standings (Average)
1. Julia Bond (220)
6. Kelly Belzeski (212.5)
9. Briana Zabierek (205)
12. Meghan Straub (201.2)
17. Gazmine Mason (193.2)