BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Women’s Bowling Weekly awards where Alabama State swept both categories with Taylor Lee earning Bowler of the Week and Alicen Ichimura earning Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Women’s Bowler of the Week: Taylor Lee, Alabama State
The Sophomore from Queens, New York has been an impactful member for the program as the Lady Hornets open with a 13-13 record. Lee finished a team-best 31st in a field of 154 bowlers at the packed Destination Orlando tournament this past weekend, featuring the nation’s top bowling teams and bowlers, where the Alabama State University squad finished 14th of 23 teams at the three day event. Individually, the second year Hornet had an average of 202.67 in traditional competition, one of just 34 bowlers at the competition with a 200+ pinfall average. Her best mark, a 236-pin game, helped the Lady Hornets put up one of its best overall totals against No. 6 Youngstown State, while her other 200+ mark came in Saturday’s final match in the upset victory over #14 Niagara. Lee has continued to be a difference maker since arriving to the River Region a season ago, helping the team to a 13-13 record in 2026 while aiding ASU as it defeated a trio of top-20 squads at one of the nation’s biggest bowling tournaments of the year.
 
SWAC Women’s Bowling Newcomer of the Week: Alicen Ichimura, Alabama State
The Freshman from Waipahu, Hawaii finished 35th individually out of a strong field of 154 bowlers at the packed Destination Orlando tournament this past weekend, featuring the nation’s top bowling teams and bowlers, where the Alabama State University squad finished 14th of 23 teams at the three-day event. The rookie was the lone Hornet to compile three games over 200 pins, the last of which came in handy in the Hornets’ 1072-836 win over Southern. She held an average of 199.83, her best of the season, while opening traditional play with her day high of 224 against No. 9 North Carolina A&T. Ichimura has emerged into a regular, everyday player for head coach Andrew Chatmon’s Lady Hornet squad, aiding the team to three top-20 wins on the weekend to reach a 13-13 record in the 2026 season as she looks to continue to be one of the impactful young players in the bowling landscape this season and beyond.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis. 

Women’s competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
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