(Lockport, IL Feb 14)- The No. 1 McKendree University women's bowling team took first place at the Flyer Classic this weekend.

They defeated Maryville in the championship match in 4/7 baker style match.

With this weekends victory, that makes three straight NCAA tournament victories for the Bearcats, and five straight victories on the year.

Coming into championship Sunday, the Bearcats had emerged victorious in nine of their traditional style matches, which earned them a first seed on Sunday.

McKendree's first match on Sunday was against Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Drury University. The Bearcats dispatched the Panthers, clinching the match in the fourth game when the Bearcats threw a 237 to Drury's 180.

The Bearcats faced Dominion University in the second round. They swept Dominion in four games to move on to the finals to face off against another GLVC foe, Maryville.

The Bearcats suffered one loss during traditional play earlier in the week to the Maryville. McKendree was looking to get even with the Saints.

In a best of seven Baker style match for the championship, McKendree emerged victorious in the sixth game when the Bearcats rolled a 196 over Maryville's 120.

"It's fun to see my girls pushing themselves each week. What they're learning not only about themselves, but as a team, and then being able to apply it makes me proud to be their coach" Said head coach Shannon O'Keefe.

Junior Hope Gramly (Prosper, TX/Prosper) was named tournament MVP, her third tournament MVP honors of the season. On the weekend, Gramly averaged 229 pinfall in five games and led the field in total pinfall on the weekend with a total of 1,148.

The Bearcats return to action next weekend when they travel to Jonesboro Arkansas to compete in the NCAA Mid-Winter Invitational from February 19^th to the 21^st.