(LEBANON, Ill., March 17)—The McKendree University women's bowling team registered another top-five finish over the weekend by finishing second at the 15-team Music City Classic. The three-day event was hosted by Vanderbilt University in Smyrna, Tenn.
The Bearcats posted a 6-6 overall record for the weekend, going 5-5 in qualifying play before splitting a pair of matches during Sunday's bracket play against host Vanderbilt. Four of McKendree's five defeats in the qualifying rounds came by 30 pins or less in the tightly-bunched field. The Bearcats now have a season match record of 79-33.
On Friday, McKendree posted a 3-2 record during Baker play. After defeating Mount Alyosius College to begin the day, the Bearcats were edged by Youngstown State University by just 15 pins. McKendree bounced back with a decisive triumph against Howard University before Monmouth University battled their way to a 26-pin decision. McKendree closed day one with a victory over Saint Francis University (Pa.).
Saturday's traditional play saw the Bearcats fall by just 22 pins to conference foe Maryville University. After defeating Louisana Tech, McKendree slipped to North Carolina A&T State University and host Vanderbilt, with the latter match decided by just six pins. The Bearcats rebounded to roll past Lincoln University to earn the No. 2 seed heading into Sunday's bracket play.
The Bearcats took on Vanderbilt again in the first round of the best-of-seven Baker bracket competition. McKendree overcame an early deficit to defeat the Commodores and earn a spot in the championship match. Vanderbilt rebounded to win its second contest to set up a rematch with the Bearcats in the title tilt. McKendree built a 2-1 lead in the finals before the hosts rallied to win the final three games and claim the title.
Junior
Taylor Bailey (Joliet, IL/Joliet West) was the Bearcats' top individual finisher at the Music City Classic. Bailey registered 1,103 pins to average 220.6 for her five-game block. Freshman
Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) was next in 23
rd place with 1,036 pins for a 207.2 average, followed closely by senior
Lauren Pate (Inver Groves Heights, MN/Simley) in 25
th position with 1,033 pins and a 206.8 average.
The Music City Classic marked the final regular-season event for McKendree in 2018-19. Up next for the Bearcats is the 2019 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships, which will be held March 22-23 in Springfield, Mo.
