(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., March 23)—The McKendree University women's bowling team found itself in familiar position following day one action at the 2019 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championship on Saturday at Andy B's in Springfield, Mo.
 
The Bearcats, who hold the top seed in the six-team field, earned a first-round bye, then won both of its matches on Saturday to advance to the finals of the tournament on Sunday. McKendree will await the winner of the Sunday's first match in the consolation final between second-seeded University of Central Missouri and No. 3 Maryville University. McKendree will take the lanes again Sunday at 11 a.m. needing just one victory to capture their second consecutive MIAA Championships title.
 
This marks the third straight year that McKendree will compete for the MIAA crown. The Bearcats were edged by Central Missouri in the 2017 championship before rebounding to defeat the Jennies in a rematch for the 2018 title.
 
McKendree opened its run on Saturday by taking on Drury, which claimed a 4-3 victory over Elmhurst College in a first-round pairing. The Bearcats took game one by a single pin, 214-213, before the Panthers rebounded with a 224-193 triumph to even the match at a game apiece. McKendree then went to work, winning the final three contests to grab a 4-1 match victory. The Bearcats began the run with a 198-169 win in game before sliding past Drury in the pivotal fourth game, 172-166. McKendree then finished off the best-of-seven Baker match with a 222-177 decision in game five.
 
With its victory over Drury, McKendree advanced into the winner's bracket final Saturday afternoon against Maryville. The Saints clawed their way to a 207-192 decision in the opener to take a 1-0 lead in the match before the Bearcats answered with three straight decisive wins to take a 3-1 lead in the match (245-158, 227-178 and 204-162). Maryville would not go quietly, scraping by McKendree 221-220 in game five before posting a 195-180 triumph in game six to set up a winner-take-all seventh game. The Bearcats built a lead and never looked back to register a 219-170 win to reach Sunday's championship match.
 
By virtue of its two victories on Saturday, McKendree improves to 81-33 in match play this season.
 
All matches at the 2019 MIAA Bowling Championship are being carried live on The MIAA Network. Visit https://themiaanetwork.com to watch free of charge.