(LEBANON, Ill. – Oct. 21) – The No.1 McKendree women's bowling team is set to open the 2020-21 season this weekend with their annual McKendree Hammer Open at St. Clair Bowl.

Shannon O'Keefe's team was most recently voted No.1 to win the 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Women's Bowling Championship and ranked No.1 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) all-division and NTCA DII/III preseason polls.

During last season's Hammer Bearcat Open, the Bearcats took third overall and had a trio of bowlers sweep the top three individual spots and earn All-Tournament honors.

The Bearcats closed out the 2019-20 season with a 93-18 dual match record, recorded three tournament victories, and registered a top-5 finish in all nine regular season events. Additionally, McKendree held the NCAA's highest RPI of programs of all divisions through the end of the regular season.

The Hammer Bearcats Open will take place Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25 at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill.