FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. - McKendree University women's bowling hosted the McKendree Baker Challenge this past weekend, claiming the titles in both the varsity and junior varsity brackets.
The two-day event featured 40 Baker games for each team before bracket play based on total pinfall. During bracket rounds, the two teams vied for "best two of three" to advance to the next round.
The women's varsity field included teams from Illinois State, Lindenwood, McKendree, Midland, Missouri Baptist, Southeastern Illinois, and Webber. McKendree's varsity team was comprised of fifth-year senior Angelique Dalesandro, sophomore Anna Warkel, graduate student Hope Gramly, junior Isabel Allen, senior Kayla Smith, junior Keyla Covarrubias, senior Maranda Pattison, and senior Rebecca Hagerman.
McKendree sealed the No. 1 seed after day one, recording a total pinfall of 7,789, averaging 194.7 pins per game, and collecting 246 pins in its highest game of the day.
With the top seed, the Bearcats received a bye in the first round of bracket play on Sunday. In the second round, McKendree faced Lindenwood, taking a 2-1 win over the Lions. On the other side of the bracket, No. 3-seeded Webber defeated Southeastern Illinois 2-1 and Missouri Baptist 2-1 to proceed to the championship round against the Bearcats.
McKendree sealed the win over Webber in the championship, 2-0.
The women's junior varsity field featured only two teams, McKendree and Lindenwood. McKendree's team included junior Dominque Donegan, freshman Emma Zinn, freshman Jalin Ruple, senior Jessica Crowley, sophomore Kira Johnson, sophomore Lexus Pietrich, junior Rhian Dobinson, and freshman Savannah Schedlberg.
The Bearcats posted a total pinfall of 6,956 with an average of 173.9 pins per game while Lindenwood recorded a 6,130 total pinfall and an average 153.3 pins per game. McKendree's highest game of the day was 221 pins.
McKendree and Lindenwood faced off in bracket play on Sunday as the Bearcats captured the championship with a 2-0 win over the Lions.
Up next, the Bearcats will compete on Feb. 10-12 at the Stormin' Flyer Classic hosted by Lewis University.
