SMYRNA, Tenn. – The top-ranked McKendree University women's bowling team will look to repeat as the champion at the 2022 Columbia 300 Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University on Sunday as the Bearcats earned the No. 1 seed in Baker bracket play after sitting atop the team standings after two days of the event held at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
After going 5-0 on the first day of action on Friday, the Bearcats went 4-1 in Saturday's five traditional games and posted a total pinfall of 5,405 and has recorded a total pinfall of 10,705 with an average of 214.1 per game through 10 matches. With their performance, the Bearcats are the No. 1 seed in Sunday's bracket play.
Sitting behind the Bearcats in second place is No. 6 Arkansas State, who has a 7-2 record and a total pinfall of 10,453 and an average of 209.1 per game, while No. 4 Vanderbilt is third as the Commodores have posted a 7-2 record and a total pinfall of 10,444 and an average of 208.9 per game.
On Saturday, all 33 teams in the event, that features 19 of the Top 25 teams nationally ranked in the latest NTCA Coaches Poll, bowled five traditional games, including starting the day with two position round games.
In the traditional games, the Bearcats three of the Top 15 individuals as junior
Rebecca Hagerman (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) finished sixth with a pinfall of 1,120 as she averaged 224.0 per game and had four games of over 200, including a high game of 247 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
In addition to Hagerman, junior
Maranda Pattison (Redwood Valley, Calif./Ukiah Independent) finished 12th overall with a total pinfall of 1,100 as she averaged 220.0 per game and recorded a 200 or better in four of her five games, including a high of 256 in the second game of the day against No. 12 Maryville, while fifth-year senior
Britaney Myers (Mechanicsville, NY/Stillwater) was 14th overall with a pinfall total of 1,095 as she averaged 21.9.0 per game and had four games of 200 or better, including a high game of 255 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Two other Bearcats finished in the Top 40 of the individual standings as sophomore
Isabel Allen (Tamworth, England/Polesworth High) was 17th with a total pinfall of 1,071 and an average of 214.2 per game as Allen bowled 200 or better in three games, including a high of 236 against No.12 Maryville and senior All-American
Hope Gramly (Prosper, Texas/Prosper) was 37th overall with a pinfall total of 1,019 as she averaged 203.8 per game and had two games of 200 or better, including a high of 235 against No. 14 Maryville.
Arkansas State's Brooklyn Buchanan was the top individual finisher as she recorded a total pinfall of 1,229 and averaged 245.8 per game and had a high of 279.
McKendree began Saturday's action with a position round games against both No. 4 Vanderbilt and No. 14 Maryville. The Bearcats fell 1,129-1,117 to the Commodores, before picking up a 1,123-950 win over Maryville.
Following the two position round games, the Bearcats then defeated Kentucky Wesleyan (1,097-913), before picking up a win over No. 7 Louisiana Tech (1,006-975) and then defeated Alabama-Birmingham (1,062-918) in its final game of the second day of action.
The Bearcats will open the best-of-seven Baker bracket play on Sunday, March 20 at 8:30 a.m. against No. 2 seeded and No. 6 ranked Arkansas State. The winner in that first round bracket play game will automatically earn a spot in the position round championship match. Vanderbilt and No. 8 Stephen F. Austin are seeded third and fourth respectively in bracket play.
