KENOSHA, Wis. – The top-ranked and defending NCAA national champion McKendree University women's bowling team opened up play here Friday at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic by going 5-0 in its five Baker format games at the event hosted by No. 4 ranked Stephen F. Austin and held at Sheridan Lanes.
Along with posting a perfect 5-0 record in their five Baker matches on Friday's first day of action, the Bearcats are second overall in the 14-team event with a total pinfall of 5,470 as they averaged 218.8 per game. McKendree recorded over 1,000 pins in four its five Baker games and is one five teams in the event that features nine nationally-ranked that recorded over 5,000 pins in Friday's Baker play. In addition, McKendree was the only game to go undefeated in Baker play on Friday.
On Friday, the Bearcats opened with a 1,151-819 win over 20th-ranked Lewis, before posting a 964-886 win against Marian (Wis.) University and then earning a 1,146-1,045 win over third-ranked Nebraska. The win over the Huskers was the fourth on the season for the Bearcats as they are 4-0 this season against the 2021 NCAA Champions.
In the fourth Baker game, the Bearcats defeated the host team, Stephen F. Austin (1,043-995) and then earned an impressive 1,166-1,014 win over No. 2 ranked Vanderbilt to conclude Friday's Baker games. McKendree earned the 2022 national title following its 4-0 win over Stephen F. Austin in the championship match of the NCAA Championships.
The Bearcats, who are now 26-3 on the 2022-23 season, will play five traditional games on Saturday as they will open the day at 9:25 a.m. with Valparaiso, before facing Wisconsin-Whitewater, North Central (Ill.) College, sixth-ranked Arkansas State and concluding the second day against Carthage (Wis.) College. The traditional format games are scheduled to begin at 9:25 a.m.
On Sunday, the Bearcats will play three more Baker format games against 25th-ranked Newman University, 15th-ranked Maryville and ninth-ranked Youngstown State, before concluding the event with one best-of-seven Baker bracket play game to determine the final placements of teams. The bracket play will begin following the final game of Sunday's Baker games.
Results from Friday and Sunday's Baker games, along with Saturday's traditional games will determine the seeding for Sunday's bracket play position round, which will be one best-of-seven Baker match.
MOTIV Ladyjack Classic Current Standings (Pinfall after first day of competition)
No. 2 Vanderbilt - 4-1 (5,626)
No. 1 McKendree - 5-0 (5,470)
No. 3 Nebraska - 2-3 (5,231)
No. 6 Arkansas State - 2-3 (5,137)
No. 4 Stephen F. Austin - 3-2 (5,125)
No. 15 Maryville - 4-1 (4,945)
No. 9 Youngstown State - 4-1 (4,906)
No. 25 Newman University - 4-1 (4,811)
Wisconsin-Whitewater - 3-2 (4,645)
Valparaiso University - 2-3 (4,535)
Marian (Wis.) University - 1-4 (4,466)
No. 20 Lewis - 1-4 (4,393)
Carthage (Wis.) College - 0-5 (4,259)
North Central (Ill.) College - 0-5 (3,884)
