VALLEY PARK, Mo. – McKendree University's women's bowling team completed the first day of the weather-shortened Columbia 300 Saints Invitational hosted by Maryville University by posting a 4-0 record and a total pinfall of 5,252 at Bowlero Lakeside.
The event was originally scheduled to begin on Friday and run three days, but a winter storm that hit the St. Louis area earlier this week forced Maryville officials to push the start of the tournament back one day and change the format as the teams played four traditional games on Saturday and will play four Baker format games on Sunday.
The No. 2 ranked Bearcats started Saturday's traditional-style matches by picking up a 982-873 win over No. 20 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, before earning an impressive 1,002-962 win over No. 3 ranked University of Nebraska. In its third match, the Bearcats picked up a 1,092-945 win over No. 10 ranked Maryville University and then after a bye in the fourth match where they scored 1,095, McKendree finished the first day with a 1,081-824 win over No. 24 Central Missouri.
Three Bearcat placed in the Top 6 during individual play, including fifth-year senior Isabella Correa Sarmiento (Cali, Colombia/Colegio Leonistico La Merced) picking up a first place finish as she recorded a total pinfall 1,092 as she averaged 218.40 per game and had three games of over 200, including a high game of 264 against Maryville.
In addition to Correa Sarmiento, senior Hope Gramly (Prosper, Texas/Prosper) was fourth overall with a total pinfall of 1,076 as she averaged 215.20 in five games and had two games over 200 with a high of 266 in the fourth game and junior Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) was sixth overall with a total pinfall of 1,056 and an average of 211.20 in five games and had four games of 200 or better, including a high of 246 against Central Missouri.
The teams will conclude the event at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6 with Baker-style play. The combined results from Saturday and Sunday's pinfall will determine the overall team champion. Each team will play rounds of best-of-seven Baker matches on Sunday.
Sunday's schedule is as follows:
Game 6 – Baker
McKendree vs. Nebraska
Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. Central Missouri
Maryville – BYE
Game 7 – Baker
McKendree vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Nebraska vs. Maryville
Central Missouri – BYE
Game 8 – Baker
McKendree – BYE
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Maryville vs. Central Missouri
Game 9 – Baker
McKendree vs. Central Missouri
Maryville vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Nebraska – BYE
Game 10 – Baker
McKendree vs. Maryville
Central Missouri vs. Nebraska
Wisconsin-Whitewater – BYE
Columbia 300 Saints Standings after Day One:
1. McKendree (5,252)
2. Nebraska (5,100)
3. Maryville (4,772)
4. Wisconsin Whitewater (4,651)
5. Central Missouri (4,364)
