(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., March 24)—For the second consecutive year, the McKendree University women's bowling team has captured the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Bowling Championships title.
 
The Bearcats needed an extra match on Sunday to repeat as MIAA champions, but McKendree prevailed against the University of Central Missouri in a winner-take-all match Sunday afternoon in the league finals held at Andy B's in Springfield, Mo. The top-seeded Bearcats were defeated in Sunday's first match by the Jennies, but the Bearcats rebounded in the final match of the tournament to sweep past Central Missouri to capture the MIAA crown once again.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of how these ladies live and breathe in every moment, not only as a team but as a family," said McKendree head coach Shannon O'Keefe. "Watching them do what they love, seeing their smiles and how they hold each other up in the good times and bad is all I can ask for as a coach. They're tough and every step along this journey is one step closer to another NCAA national championship."
 
McKendree earned its spot in the MIAA Bowling Championship finals by defeating Drury University and Maryville University in best-of-seven Baker matches on Saturday. The Bearcats awaited the winner of Sunday's elimination match between Maryville and Central Missouri, which was won by the Jennies.
 
The Bearcats, needing just one victory on Sunday to earn the MIAA championship, got off to a slow start in their first match against second-seeded Central Missouri. The Jennies defeated McKendree 213-194 in the opening contest before posting wins of 200-182 and 212-192 to build a 3-0 lead in the match. The Bearcats avoided a sweep by winning the fourth game 224-176 before Central Missouri nipped McKendree 205-202 in the fifth contest to grab a 4-1 match victory. The loss was only the first for McKendree in the double-elimination tournament, setting up a winner-take-all rematch with the Jennies for the league title.
 
McKendree dominated the last match of the MIAA season from the outset, beginning with a 248-224 win over Central Missouri in game one. The Bearcats then registered wins of 168-156 and 190-183 to take a 3-0 lead in the match. McKendree then finished off the sweep with a 191-161 triumph in the fourth game.
 
This marked the third consecutive year that McKendree and Central Missouri met in the MIAA Championships final. The Jennies won the 2017 crown before the Bearcats' current run of two straight titles.
 
Following the final match, McKendree freshman Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) was named the Most Outstanding Bowler in the MIAA Championships. Earlier in the week, Gramly was honored as the MIAA Freshman of the Year.
 
The field for the 2019 NCAA National Collegiate Bowling Championships will be announced on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT. The selection show will be carried live at www.ncaa.com.