ORLANDO, Fla. – First-year Head Coach Chelsea Gilliam and the Bethune-Cookman Bowling Team didn't have far to travel this weekend, as the Wildcats competed in the 2019 Sunshine State Classic hosted by Sacred Heart and Stephen F. Austin. The three-day event went from Friday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, Feb. 10.
 
During Sunday's bracket portion of the tournament, the Wildcats went up against Florida A&M twice, as well as national power Nebraska to finish 14th overall in the field.
 
Against FAMU in the day's opening Baker match, BCU fell 4.5-0.5 in a tough contest. That was followed by a hard-fought 4-0 setback to Nebraska. The final game was a Baker match and defeat to FAMU by a 4-o count.
 
Friday's action also featured Baker matches, with BCFU taking part in five altogether.
 
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a 941-512 setback to co-host Sacred Heart, followed by an 844-518 defeat to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Prairie View A&M.
 
Perennial power Nebraska downed the Maroon and Gold in the next contest by a 1,106-607 decision, followed by a 983-573 setback at the hands of Tulane. The final match of the day was a 998-535 defeat to Monmouth.
 
Saturday, BCU took part in five Traditional games.
 
Bethune-Cookman opened with a loss to Lincoln Memorial (877-620), but received a strong 174 game from Bailey Williams. The second game of Saturday's action saw the Maroon and Gold fight valiantly in a 948-594 setback to new Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) bowling member UAB, while it was Williams providing a 167 and teammate Bethany Gray-Shealey sporting a 145 in the contest.
 
In the third game, Williams put up a 160 in helping BCU to a tough 875-518 setback to FAMU, before the Wildcats took an 851-569 defeat to Delaware State in a non-conference matchup – much like those against Florida A&M.
 
The final game of Traditional play saw co-host Stephen F. Austin power past BCU with an 882-485 score line, as it was Gray-Shealey providing a 141 contest.
 
Loren Harris mustered up a 124 game in the Traditional opener versus Lincoln Memorial, and Kaliece Pinckney powered a 109 contest against Delaware State.

BCU went 0-13 for the weekend in valiant matches in which Gilliam only had two bowlers competing that were recruited as collegiate bowlers.
 
Stephen F. Austin grabbed first place for the weekend tournament, followed by Nebraska, Sacred Heart, Vanderbilt and Maryville to round out the top five participating teams.
 
Bethune-Cookman is back in action Feb. 23-24, when the Wildcats travel to the second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) event of the year hosted by North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
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