(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 11)—The McKendree University women's bowling team will once again be well-represented on Team USA for 2019.
 
McKendree junior Breanna Clemmer (Clover, SC/Clover) rolled her way into one of the team berths by placing second overall at the 2019 Team USA Trials held recently at Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Clemmer's strong week was punctuated by winning the 2019 United States National Amateur Bowling Championships, held in conjunction with the Team USA Trials.
 
In addition, McKendree women's bowling coach Shannon O'Keefe earned a spot on the Team USA roster for the 15^th consecutive year. O'Keefe, who was also the 2018 Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Player of the Year, has been a part of Team USA every year since 2005.
 
Clemmer, who was a five-time Junior Team USA member, was consistently near the top of the Team USA Trials leaderboard throughout the five days of qualifying. Each of the five days featured a different oil pattern, varying in length from 36-45 feet. Clemmer finished second overall in the Trials qualifying with a total of 57 points, averaging 220.37 for the week.
 
In the standings for the U.S. Amateur, Clemmer sat atop the leaderboard and earned a bye to the finals of the event. Clemmer faced third-seeded Mabel Cummins in the title match and claimed victory by defeating Cummins 217-181.
 
A veteran member of Team USA, O'Keefe played a major role in helping the squad win the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup this past November. Representing Team USA among the 68 countries competing in Las Vegas, O'Keefe bowled her way into the semifinals of the event. She eventually defeated Li Jane Sin from Malaysia in the championship match to become the first women to win the World Cup in her home country.
 
The McKendree women's bowling team, which is ranked first in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, is in action this weekend at the Mid-Winter Invitational hosted by Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark.