Bowling Set to Compete in NCAA Tournament
4/1/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Following a second-place finish at the Northeast Conference Tournament, the Sacred Heart University bowling team garnered an NCAA at-large selection for the program's seventh appearance. The Pioneers drew conference rival Duquesne — who they lost to in the NEC Championships — in the opening round of the tournament on April 7 at AMF Pro Bowl Lanes in North Kansas City, Missouri.
The team is led by seniors Rachel Bamford, Colby Jones and Skyler Mulligan-Brown, along with first-year Paige Donovan. Bamford and Jones were named to the All-NEC First Team and Donovan to the All-Rookie Team. Bamford and Mulligan-Brown earned spots on the five-member All-Tournament Team.
"They kept positive in the fall when we could not compete or get together as a team while other bowling schools did," head coach Becky Kregling said. "They all worked extra hard on the lanes to be ready for the spring, then kept their heads up when competition started, and we didn't have half our roster for the first couple weeks."
Bamford was the 2020 NEC Player of the Year and led the team with an impressive 21.216 average scoring in 218 frames for a second-place spot across the league. The right-handed veteran posted a league-high overall average of 90.8% for individual frame fill.
Typically fourth in the rotation, Jones is tabbed second in ninth frame strikes as the setup bowler (55.8%). The Virginia Beach, Va. native ranks third in overall scoring (20.515/frame), second in Baker strikes (54.5%) and number two in Baker double (61.9%).
"I am very proud of our group," coach Kregling stated. "The first-years stepped up and into the lineup earlier than we expected."
Donovan had an impressive 20.98 frame average and 57% strikes in the win over Mount St. Mary's in the first NEC meet, propelling her to be credited to the All-Rookie Team. On February 19, the first-year led the team in the second match, throwing seven out of 10 strikes for 247 in the 10 frame Baker Total Pinfall.
"It was an odd season competing while dealing with social distancing and COVID protocol, but we are grateful we have been able to and are excited to have a spot in Kansas City," coach Kregling concluded.
The 2021 National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship hosted by the University of Central Missouri and Kansas City Sports Commission will conduct a regional competition for the first time on April 7-8. The winners of each regional will advance to the NCAA championship, which will be held April 9-10.
The regional and championship brackets will be double-elimination, with each round consisting of a best-of-three match that includes the use of three-team game formats- baker total pinfall, five-person team match and a best-of-seven baker match play. Regional competition will conclude with one team from each regional bracket advancing to compete in the championship.
