MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (March 22, 2026) – Bowie State continued its postseason push Sunday morning, defeating Elizabeth City State 2-0 in the semifinal round of the 2026 CIAA Women’s Bowling Championship at Bowlero Bowling.
With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the championship match, where they will face top seeded and undefeated Fayetteville State at 2 p.m. in a rematch for the CIAA Women’s Bowling title.
Bowie State delivered a composed performance in the semifinal, sweeping Elizabeth City State to continue its run through the elimination bracket. The victory marks the program’s third win in elimination play, showcasing resilience and momentum at a critical point in the tournament.
Elizabeth City State’s run comes to a close after an impressive showing. Entering as the No. 6 seed, the Vikings made their presence felt with multiple strong performances, including two wins on day one that propelled them into the winners bracket.
Awaiting Bowie State is a Fayetteville State team that has remained dominant throughout the championship. The Broncos previously defeated Bowie State earlier in the tournament and now enter the title match undefeated. Fayetteville State is appearing in its 10th consecutive CIAA Women’s Bowling Championship match and is seeking a fourth straight conference title.
The championship match is set for 2 p.m., where Bowie State will need to defeat Fayetteville State twice in the double elimination format to claim the title.
Fans can watch the championship live at https://theciaasn.com/
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.