WASHINGTON (March 20, 2019) – Last year ended bitterly for the Howard University women's bowling team, falling just a few matches short of making the championship season. They fought throughout the year but could not quite get over the hump. Not qualifying last season was motivation for this year's squad.
 
Before the season, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) released its preseason order of finish where the Bison were expected to finish ninth overall. Under the new tournament format, along with two perennial programs joining the league in Monmouth and UAB this season, only the top six teams reached Chesapeake, Va.
 
The Bison knew they had a fight ahead of them and wanted to prove those predictions wrong and they did just that.
 
With new additions to practice and off-lane assignments, the Bison had a new look and attitude about them. The squad had higher scores while defeating several top-ranked programs along the way. Three Bison rank in the top 200 among NCAA qualifiers.
 
After the first MEAC meet, HU sat in sixth place; however, needed to perform well at the next conference meet to end its one-year hiatus.
 
Due to some technicalities at the first event, there had to be a change to the format of the second meet. Instead of wins/losses determining placement, it would be based on total pinfall. This change came as a surprise, but the team was more than ready for the challenge.
 
Saturday (Feb. 23), the Bison competed in five traditional style matches where they grabbed victories over Coppin State and five-time National Champions Maryland Eastern Shore. Despite the two wins, HU went 2-3 on the day. That evening, the team had a meeting in preparation for Sunday's must-win matches.
 
Over the season, baker style games have been the Bison's specialty. The team felt confident and ready to tackle those matches.
 
After knocking off Florida A&M in Sunday's opener, the Bison took a devasting loss to Morgan State. That low set put HU in jeopardy of losing their spot since the tournament was based on total pins.
 
Howard needed to roll a minimum 800 to punch their ticket but needed to defeat reigning MEAC Champions North Carolina A&T State. HU posted a 212 in the first game that set the tone for the entire match. Howard took down the Aggies, 953-904, but had to wait until the final results.
 
After all the results were counted, the conference announced its final standings where the Bison held the sixth and final spot; thus, making the 2019 MEAC Championship.
 
The Bison's hard work paid off, but the journey is not over. Among the six squads, HU is the only team not ranked nationally (Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T State, Monmouth and UAB). Despite the tough competition, Howard has defeated each club once this season.
 
The road was not an easy one for the Bison, but the team pulled together and fought hard to get to this point. Now, the fight continues as they try to bring home the program's first MEAC Title.
 
Follow the hashtag #BisontakeMEACS2019 on Instagram and keep up with HU's title run.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.