The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Bowling This Weekend In Bessemer
2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
Feb. 23, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB bowling team will compete close to home this weekend against a loaded field in Bessemer, Ala., when the Blazers take to the lanes for the Holiday Classic at the Holiday Bowl Fun Center.
The tournament, which gets underway Friday afternoon, will be the closest event to home UAB has competed in all year. It is also one of only two tournaments remaining on the team's regular-season schedule.
The field includes four teams ranked among the top 10 in the country: No. 3 Valparaiso, No. 4 Arkansas State, No. 6 Central Missouri and No. 7 Vanderbilt. Alabama A&M, ranked 17th, is also in the tournament along with Alabama State, Tulane and Southern.
Friday's action at the Holiday Classic is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. with five total-pinfall Baker matches.The tournament continues Saturday at 9 a.m. with five traditional matches and concludes Sunday at 8 a.m. with bracket play using best-of-seven Baker matches to determine a champion.
The Blazers, under the direction of head coach Michelle Crews, are in their first season of intercollegiate competition but have already found a measure of success. The team won South Carolina State's Bulldog Roundup three weeks ago in its most recent action for its second tournament victory of the season.
Jamie Cowden and Marissa Ferreira have been two of UAB's top performers this year, and the duo finished first and second individually at the Bulldog Roundup as the Blazers topped South Carolina State, Fayetteville State and Shaw University in the four-team event.
UAB's Leah Walker and Jennafer Mellott also finished in the top 10 individually the last time out, while Qituwrah King came in 14th.
Following this weekend's tournament, UAB will have a couple weeks off before closing out its regular season March 16-18 at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn.
