LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following the first day of competition here at the Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic hosted by Mount St. Mary's University, McKendree University women's bowling sits in second place after going 4-1 in Saturday's Baker format games at the South Point Hotel & Casino Bowling Arena.
After the first day of competition, McKendree recorded a total of 5,470 pins and averaged 218.8 per game to sit in second place out of 13 teams. Top-ranked Stephen F. Austin led the way on Saturday with a total of 5,519 pins and averaged 220.8 per game, while fifth-ranked Vanderbilt was third with 5,090 pins and averaged 199.4 per game.
The No. 2 ranked Bearcats opened the day with a win over 18th-ranked Maryland Eastern Shore (1,067), before picking up a win over Texas Southern (1,120-875) and then earning a win over Vanderbilt in a tiebreaker after the two teams tied at 966 following the 10th frame of the fifth and final game.
Against Vanderbilt, the match came down to All-American anchors – McKendree senior
Hope Gramly (Prosper, Texas/Prosper) and Vandy's Mabel Cummins – in the 10th and final frame of the fifth game. Entering the 10th frame, Vandy trailed by 15 pins. Cummins would record a strike, while Gramly recorded a spare on the first roll. Cummins would record a spare on next two rolls to give Vandy a total of 966 pins and then Gramly, who needed nine pins for the win, would knock down just eight pins on her final two rolls to tie the things at 966.
In NCAA Bowling, ties are settled by playing a modified tie-breaker of five frames. In the tiebreaker, the Bearcats would prevail 97-92 to give them the win.
Following the win over the Commodores, McKendree moved to 4-0 on the day after its win over Spalding (Ky.) University (1,159-733), before suffering a loss in its final game against 13th-ranked Tulane as the Green Wave defeated the Bearcats, 1,164-1,158.
McKendree will return to action on Sunday as they start off the traditional matches by facing Stephen F. Austin. McKendree will open Sunday's action with a bye in its first game, before meeting the top ranked Ladyjacks. Bowling will begin at 9:55 a.m. on Sunday.
Here are the standings following the first day of the 2022 Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic:
No. 10 Stephen F. Austin (5,519)
No. 2 McKendree (5,470)
No. 5 Vanderbilt (5,090)
No. 9 Mount St. Mary's (4,985)
No. 3 Nebraska (4,958)
No. 18 Maryland Eastern Shore (4,921)
No. 13 Tulane (4,917)
No. 10 Maryville (4,902)
Prairie View A&M (4,706)
Monmouth (4,616)
Texas Southern (4,415)
Spalding (3,681)
Grambling State (3,443)
