Week 1 Stats: 21.56 overall FA, .589 strike pct., 9.30 first-ball avg
It's been a long wait for Sacred Heart’s return to competition, but Bamford did not miss a beat since her banner junior season. The reigning NEC Player of the Year was sensational during SHU’s first tournament appearance of the 2020-21 campaign. Bamford averaged a league-high 21.56 pins per frame over two days at the Northeast Invite in New Jersey. The veteran right-hander threw 53 strikes in 90 attempts (.589) while averaging 9.30 pins per first-ball shot. She knocked down 9+ pins on 83.3 percent of her first shots and went on to fill frames at an .878 clip. During Saturday’s traditional team rounds, Bamford eclipsed the 200-pin mark in all four NCAA matches. The senior righty topped her day by firing a 263 game in a win over NEC rival Long Island.