FINAL BRACKET

(DAYTON, Ohio, April 19)—The McKendree University women's bowling team went down to the wire in the championship match of the 2019 Intercollegiate Team Championship held at Poelking Lanes South in Dayton, Ohio, posting a second-place finish in the 16-team field.
 
The Bearcats were edged 3-2 in the title match by Robert Morris University (Ill.) Saturday morning. McKendree, which was bowling in its third consecutive ITC championship match, was seeking the program's second event crown. The Bearcats won the 2017 championship down in Baton Rouge, La., before posting a runner-up finish last April in Lincoln, Neb.
 
"I'm so proud of our team and the fact they put themselves in a position to win," said head coach Shannon O'Keefe. "It's been an honor to coach this team, and to see them enjoy the game, and accomplish what they have, is just wonderful to see as a coach. I give all the credit to Robert Morris because they came back, and made some tough shots at key moments that put them in a position to win as well."
 
McKendree opened Saturday's match by winning the first two games in the best-of-five Baker finals. The Bearcats took an early lead with a 230-205 triumph in game one before taking the second contest, 177-165. Robert Morris began its comeback with a 212-185 win in the third game. After pulling even with a 217-181 decision in game four, the Eagles finished off the match with a 183-177 victory in the fifth and decisive game.
 
This was the 15^th consecutive year that McKendree has competed at the Intercollegiate Team Championship. During that run, the Bearcats have won the 2017 title while posting four second-place finishes and a pair of third-place showings.
 
Saturday's match also marked the final appearance for a trio of seniors for McKendree: Lauren Pate (Inver Groves Heights, MN/Simley), Ashley Dunn (Palmdale, CA/Quartz Hill) and Ashley Hathaway (Lewisville, TX/The Colony). O'Keefe spoke highly of her seniors following the match.
 
"There's no doubt I will miss our seniors," said O'Keefe. "They were part of my first recruiting class, and they have been a part of so many memorable moments. They helped raise the bar for our program and they will always be a special part of this program."
 
Eight members of the McKendree women's bowling program were part of the Bearcats' national championship squad this weekend. The group includes seniors Lauren Pate (Inver Groves Heights, MN/Simley), Ashley Dunn (Palmdale, CA/Quartz Hill) and Ashley Hathaway (Lewisville, TX/The Colony), juniors Breanna Clemmer (Clover, SC/Clover), Taylor Bailey (Joliet, IL/Joliet West) and Shannon Grimm (Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit), sophomore Britaney Myers (Mechanicsville, NY/Stillwater) and freshman Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper).