LINCOLN, Neb. – The top-ranked McKendree University bowling team completed play here Sunday in the Big Red Invitational with a second place overall out of eight teams at the event hosted by the University of Nebraska and held at the Hollywood Bowl.
McKendree, who has now had four tournament runner-up finishes this season, finished the tournament with an overall average of 222.6 over 61 matches as the Bearcats recorded a total pinfall of 13,576 and finished with a 10-2 overall record.
No. 3 ranked Nebraska took home its fifth tournament title of the season at its own event as the Huskers averaged 224.1 over 62 matches and posted a 10-2 record and a total pinfall of 13,893. No. 7 Arkansas State was third with an average of 215.9 in 64 matches and went 5-7 with a total pinfall of 13,817.
Two Bearcats made the All-Tournament Team at this weekend's Big Red Invitational junior
Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) was second with a total pinfall of 1,175 across five matches and averaged 235.0 per game and recorded 200 or better in all five matches, including a high of 253 against Quincy, while graduate student
Cassidy Courey (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Mount Mercy) was fourth overall with a total pinfall of 1,153 and averaged 230.60 per game and had 200 or better in all five matches, including a high of 244 against No. 7 Arkansas State.
The other members of the All-Tournament Team were Arkansas State's Emma Stull (1,193, 1st) and Nebraska's duo of Cassidy Ray (1,172, 3rd) and Kayla Verstraete (1,143, 5th).
McKendree started Sunday's final day with best-of-seven Baker-style play against Nebraska and the Huskers would post a 4-2 win by a score of 1,357-1,340 over the Bearcats, before concluding the tournament with a 4-1 win over Quincy University.
In the match against Nebraska, the Huskers won the first game, 233-201, but the Bearcats won the second game (248-207) and then NU took the third game (245-224) and the fourth game (225-215) to take a 3-1 lead in match. The Bearcats would rebound to win the fifth game (214-191), but the Huskers would post a win in the sixth match with a score of 246-238.
Against Quincy, the Bearcats lost the first game, 200-192, before winning the next three games (209-169, 205-181, 212-194 and 234-146) to take the match 4-1 against the Hawks.
The Bearcats will return to the lanes on March 12-13 as they travel to Addison, Ill., to compete in the USBC Sectionals at the Stardust Bowl.
Big Red Invitational Final Results: