McKendree wins 2017 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship

16 April, 2017

Collegiate

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McKendree captured its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s Bowling Championship on Saturday at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge, La.

The Bearcats swept five-time NCAA champion Nebraska (right; photo courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications) in the best-of-seven Baker final, 4-0, to become the first Division II team to win the title. Saturday’s championship round was broadcast live on ESPNU.

McKendree came out of the gates with a 182-169 win before settling in under the TV lights, averaging 236 in its final three games on the way to wins of 244-192, 224-212 and 240-223.

“I think once we realized we could get left on the TV pair and play them like we had the rest of the week is what really calmed the nerves,” McKendree head coach Shannon O’Keefe (pictured above, far right) said.

“After that, we did a great job of staying connected and staying in the moment. I don’t know if there are words to describe how proud I am of them. This is the best feeling in the world.”

McKendree, the only team to go undefeated in the double-elimination bracket, earned its spot in the final after holding off 2014 champion Sam Houston State (left; photo courtesy GoBearkats.com) in the semifinals, 4-3.

Nebraska made its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA title match by defeating Maryland Eastern Shore (4.5-3.5) and Vanderbilt (right; photo courtesy @VandyBowling) twice (4-1 and 4.5-2.5) in the elimination bracket Saturday to advance.

The 2017 event marked the second consecutive year the Cornhuskers finished as the runner-up. They fell to Stephen F. Austin in the title match last year. Nebraska claimed the 2013 and 2015 titles during its current run of championship-round appearances.

“They never let us in this match today, and they did a great job with staying calm, cool and collected, while we had a couple of problems that way,” Nebraska head coach Bill Straub said. “I whole heartedly congratulate McKendree on the great job they did.”

McKendree freshman Breanna Clemmer was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, and she was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Taylor Bailey, Nebraska’s Gazmine Mason, Vanderbilt’s Katie Stark and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Thashaina Seraus.

“This experience was life-changing in so many ways,” said Clemmer, a four-time Junior Team USA member. “I not only learned a lot about myself, but my teammates, too. It feels great to go out on the lanes and feel confident and 100 percent committed to every single shot. This is something I will remember forever, and it feels really amazing. I don’t know if that feeling will ever go away.”

A total of eight teams qualified for the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship based off their performances during the regular season. After seven qualifying games Thursday and Friday, teams were seeded into the double-elimination bracket based on their win-loss records.

Livestream coverage for all rounds leading up to the televised finals was provided by the NCAA. For more information on the 2017 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship, click here.

McKendree, Vanderbilt undefeated at NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship
McKendree leads after opening day at 2017 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship
Collegiate titles to be determined in Baton Rouge

2017 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship – Match Play Results

Double elimination, best-of-seven Baker matches

Round 3 – Elimination Bracket
(Losers eliminated)
(8) Sam Houston State def. (6) Arkansas State, 4-0 (224-179, 192-147, 222-212, 191-182)
(4) Nebraska def. (7) Maryland Eastern Shore, 4.5-3.5 (203-179, 191-204, 246-175, 221-212, 186-190, 168-189, 167-167; Nebraska wins tiebreaker, 100-88)

Semifinals
(If the team from the elimination bracket wins, a second semifinal will be needed.)
(1) McKendree def. Sam Houston State, 4-3 (258-252, 230-212, 200-208, 192-168, 176-207, 202-217, 187-174)
Nebraska def. (2) Vanderbilt, 4-1 (171-259, 189-184, 228-180, 211-204, 204-178)
Nebraska def. Vanderbilt, 4.5-2.5 (165-232, 232-173, 174-175, 205-180, 177-177, 188-187, 212-168)

Finals
McKendree def. Nebraska, 4-0 (182-169, 244-192, 224-212, 240-223).

NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship History

2017 Champion: McKendree – Coach Shannon O’Keefe
2016 Champion: Stephen F. Austin – Coach Amber Lemke
2015 Champion: Nebraska – Coach Bill Straub
2014 Champion: Sam Houston State – Coach Brad Hagen
2013 Champion: Nebraska – Coach Bill Straub
2012 Champion: Maryland Eastern Shore – Coach Kristina Frahm
2011 Champion: Maryland-Eastern Shore – Coach Sharon Brummell
2010 Champion: Fairleigh Dickinson – Coach Mike LoPresti
2009 Champion: Nebraska – Coach Bill Straub
2008 Champion: Maryland Eastern Shore – Coach Sharon Brummell
2007 Champion: Vanderbilt – Coach John Williamson
2006 Champion: Fairleigh Dickinson – Coach Mike LoPresti
2005 Champion: Nebraska – Coach Bill Straub
2004 Champion: Nebraska – Coach Bill Straub

Herbert Bickel