Grand Rapids, Mich. (May 7, 2021) – The Mount bowling season came to an end Friday at the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After advancing in the winners' bracket with a 4-3 best-of-seven win over No. 1 seed Stephen F. Austin, the Mountaineers fell to Mount Mercy and Newman to end their run for a national championship.
 
While the Mount was able to overcome spare miscues early against SFA yesterday, they proved costly against Mount Mercy, the No. 1 ranked team in the USBC point system. After taking a 1-0 advantage, Mount Mercy took the next three to put MSM in a 3-1 hole. Showing resiliency, the Mount rebounded 3-2 before miscues cost them in game six. The Mount once again drew first blood against Newman but proceeded to drop the next four in a 4-1 defeat. Painfully so, the final three games all came down to the final frames in favor of the opposition, including a two-pin defeat in the deciding game that sent the Mountaineers home.
 
In the Mount Mercy match, it was Junior Tamera Stanton leading the charge with a 20.91 baker frame average. Sophomore Amanda Yeung (19.50) and Freshman Katherine Corbin (18.75) also contributed in the close loss. In the match against Newman, it was Junior Barbara Hawes who paced 18.20 in a full ten frames of action. Freshman Alyssa Alexander came in off the bench for games four and five and posted a 23.00 baker frame average in four frames.
 
"While the sting of elimination will take time to pass, we will look back and be proud of all we accomplished in 2020-21," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "In each of these three seasons since its foundation, we have improved each year and continue to set the bar higher and higher. In year one that was becoming nationally ranked. In year two that was becoming top-15 in the country. Now, in year three with no seniors, we have made it to both the NCAA and USBC National Championships."
 
"These building blocks continue to pile and I am confident with what we have returning and what is coming in we will take yet another step forward in 2021-22. We made this history in the midst of a global pandemic, to which I cannot say how proud I am of this team for having zero positive Covid tests during the school year. We were able to enjoy our season with zero interruptions due to the virus and that is a testament to the sacrifices these ladies have made. I am proud to be their head coach and know the future is bright here at the Mount."
 
With the season concluded, the Mount will turn their attention to final exams and an off-season of improvement before returning to the lanes Oct. 1 for the 2021-22 NCAA Bowling Season.