The No.1 McKendree University women's bowling team captured the inaugural Great Lakes Valley Conference Women's Championship over the weekend at Bel Air Bowl in Belleville, Ill.

The Bearcats earned the number one seed in the tournament and earned a bye in the first day of the competition.

Day two would see the Bearcats square off with the Central Missouri Jennies in their first match of the day. The Bearcats would cruise to a victory in the mega-match format.

In traditional style play, McKendree would see four players throw above 200 with sophomore Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, IL/Harlem) leading the charge with a score of 232, while junior Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) was right behind with a 225. Sophomore Maranda Pattison (Redwood Valley, CA/Ukiah Independent) threw chipped in with a 224 and Isabella Correa Sarmiento (Cali, Colombia/Colegio Leonistico La Merced) contributed a total score of 201.

During the baker style portion of the competition, McKendree finished with a total pin fall of 1,166 in five games.

Championship Sunday saw McKendree square off with the Jennies yet again, this time for the conference title. This time, Central Missouri would edge the Bearcats by a mere 21 pins to force a best of seven baker series.

McKendree would bounce back to win the mega match after taking the best-of-7 in six games. In the traditional game, Gramly was solid once again this time putting together a spectacular 277. Pattison would contribute a 251 for the Bearcats en route to a 1,137-961 win.

The Bearcats will now advance to compete in the NCAA Women's Bowling Championships which begin on April 8 and the 2021 NCAA tournament selection show on will be on March 31.