RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. - The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's bowling team finished third in the NCAA Championships for the second straight season. The Warhawks, the lone representatives in a championship that encompasses all divisions of the NCAA, were making their third straight appearance in the championships.
The Warhawks, seeded eighth after the qualifying round, lost their opening round of bracket play to top-seeded Stephen F. Austin University. UW-Whitewater came back to defeat Vanderbilt later Friday before resuming competition Saturday morning.
UW-Whitewater opened Saturday's best-of-seven Baker matches with a 4-0 rout of Arkansas State. The Warhawks won 190-177, 184-170, 258-215 and 265-212.
Pinned against SFA once again, the Warhawks forced a second match against the top seed for a chance to advance to the championship. UW-Whitewater and SFA traded the first three games with Stephen F. Austin taking a 2-1 lead. The Warhawks rattled off the next three games including a nail-biting 192-191 win in the sixth game of the match to force the decisive second match.
SFA won the first two 251-173 and 221-177. The Warhawks came back with a win by nearly 100 pins, 243-144. Stephen F. Austin extended their lead with a 207-170 win but the Warhawks weren't done yet. UW-Whitewater extended the match with a 193-179 win but SFA came back with a 254-195 win in game six to advance to the finals.
The University of Nebraska advanced through the bottom part of the bracket to face SFA in the championship final Saturday evening.
Head Coach
Leann Eimermann was named Co-Division II/III Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons at the helm for the Warhawks by the National Tenpin Coaches Association at the banquet prior to championship competition.
Junior
Lindsay Rusch (Appleton/Kimberly ) was named to the All-Tournament Team for her performance in the championship.
The Warhawks will compete as a team in the USBC Collegiate Championships April 15-18. UW-Whitewater qualified for the championships after winning the Addison, Illinois sectional in March.
