Harrison Lilley

Staff Writer

hjl5363@psu.edu

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Penn State Behrend women’s bowling team showcased their skills and determination at the AMCC Round Robin 2 tournament, finishing with a commendable overall record of 5-5, earning them a respectable fifth-place finish. The tournament took place at the New Jersey City lanes and spanned three days of intense competition.

Day One (Traditional) kicked off the event with the Lions facing off against Saint Vincent and La Roche. The Lions faced a challenging Saint Vincent team in their first match and battled hard but ultimately fell short, with Saint Vincent securing a victory with a score of 859-746. However, Behrend refused to be discouraged and bounced back in their second match, defeating La Roche with a score of 829-689.

Sidney Batsa from Latrobe, PA, played a pivotal role in match two, leading all the bowlers with an impressive score of 216. Senior Bella Pilyih, hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, showcased her skills with a team-high score of 187 in the first match against Saint Vincent. Pilyih claimed the 11th spot in the individual standings with a first-day average of 180, while Batsa followed closely behind in 12th place with an average score of 179.

As a team, Behrend demonstrated consistency, tallying an average game score of 157.5 in the ten games played on the first day, accumulating a total pinfall of 1,575.

Day Two (Traditional) brought both challenges and victories for the Lions. They faced Penn State Altoona, Hilbert, Pitt-Bradford, and New Jersey City. The Lions succumbed to Penn State Altoona and Pitt-Bradford but managed to secure wins against Hilbert and New Jersey City. These victories propelled Behrend into fourth place in the tournament standings, with an overall record of 3-3.

Emily Warrene, a sophomore from Tarentum, PA, led the Lions against Hilbert with a score of 173. Warrene continued to shine, contributing team-high scores of 150 and 156 in matches three and five. Ashley Debich from Leechburg, PA, also made her presence felt with a score of 166 in game four.

Sidney Batsa once again stepped up in game six, tallying a team-high score of 201, helping the Lions secure a victory against the hosts, New Jersey City. Batsa finished the tournament in 21st place in the individual standings with a game average of 161.50 and a total pinfall of 969.

As a team, Behrend showcased their resilience, delivering a consistent 150.8 average in the 30 games played on the second day, with a total pinfall of 4,525.

The final day of competition (Day Three – Traditional) witnessed the Lions continuing to battle against formidable opponents. Behrend went 2-2 on the day, with victories over Mount Aloysius and Alvernia in traditional matches eight and 11. Despite their impressive efforts, they secured an overall fifth-place finish in the tournament.

Saint Vincent claimed the top spot in the standings with a record of 9-1, followed by William Smith (9-1), Alvernia (8-2), and Pitt-Greensburg (6-4), with Behrend rounding out the top five.

Emily Warrene was instrumental in Behrend’s win over Mount Aloysius, leading the team with a score of 196. Sidney Batsa continued her consistent performance with a team-high score of 181 against William Smith.

Behrend’s match against Pitt-Greensburg was an intense showdown, resulting in a tiebreaker that ended in favor of the Bobcats, 87-71. However, the Lions regained their momentum in the final match, defeating Alvernia with a game-high score of 222 from senior Ashley Debich.

In the individual standings, Sidney Batsa finished 22nd with a total pinfall of 1,560 and an average of 156.00. Ashley Debich and Bella Pilyih secured the 28th and 29th positions, respectively, with averages of 159.78 and 159.00.

Throughout the tournament, Behrend demonstrated remarkable teamwork and resilience, registering an average of 151.5 in 50 games played and accumulating a total pinfall of 7,577 over the three-day competition. The Lions showcased their talent and determination, leaving their mark on the AMCC Round Robin 2 tournament.