HOUSTON, Texas (2/12/16) – The top-ranked Arkansas State women's bowling team concluded the first day of the Stephen F. Austin Stormin' Ladyjack Classic in Houston, Texas with a 4-1 record and a total pinfall of 5,990 to put the Red Wolves in fourth place.

A-State (61-21) began the day with a 937-867 victory over Southern, but dropped a 1,007-941 contest to No. 14 Long Island University-Brooklyn in its second match for the squad's only loss of the day.  The Red Wolves returned to their winning ways in match three with a 961-865 win over No. 6 Wisconsin-Whitewater and followed with a 1,060-1,002 win versus Jackson State.  The team closed the day with a 1,064 in a bye match and a very impressive 1,027-922 victory over No. 2 Nebraska.

“All in all, it was a pretty good day for us,” A-State head women's bowling coach Justin Kostick said. “We got two big wins over teams ranked in the Top 10 including a win against Nebraska that was really difficult.  I had to have the girls stand in front of the ball return on the right lane and we performed well."

North Carolina A&T leads the field with a total pinfall of 6,128, just two pins ahead of Nebraska's 6,126. Fairleigh Dickinson is the only other team over 6,000 with a 6,072 and is ahead of Arkansas State's pinfall of 5,990.  The host team, Stephen F. Austin, rounds out the top five with 5,953 pins.

Day two of the competition gets underway at 9:25 a.m. Saturday morning with six traditional team matches.  Today and Saturday's total pinfall will be added together to determine the seeding for Sunday's bracket play.