DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Bethune-Cookman University bowling team remains ranked No. 19 in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 20 poll released Friday evening.

The Wildcats hold a season record of 40-41 overall, but have taken to the lanes against at least three nationally-ranked teams in each of their last two tournaments. The Cats took two wins against nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin and Alabama State, respectively, to end last weekend's Prairie View A&M Invitational.

"I feel like we've struggled all year, but I'm happy to see that we remain among the nation's elite," said B-CU head coach Tony O'Neal.

Central Missouri kept its grip on first place in the January poll of the National Ten Pin Coaches Association. The Jennies garnered 18 of the 26 first-place votes, well ahead of second place Maryland-Eastern Shore, which had four votes for first place. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member Maryland Eastern Shore maintained the second spot for the second consecutive poll.

Nebraska made an upward move in the new polling, jumping from sixth to third on the strength of team wins at the Mid-Winter and Prairie View events. The Huskers had three first-place votes and was just 23 total poll points behind the Hawks.

The Arkansas State Red Wolves went from seventh in December to fourth after placing third in their Mid-Winter Classic and the Prairie View Invitational. Vanderbilt slipped from third to fifth after a pair of fourth place finishes in January while Wisconsin-Whitewater climbed from ninth to sixth. Fairleigh Dickinson, Sam Houston State, Adelphi and Kutztown round out the Top 10.

B-CU will get back on the lanes again Feb. 15-17 when the Cats travel to the Morgan State Invitational in Perry Hall, Md.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feed, @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at Bethune-Cookman Athletics.

-www.BCUathletics.com-