SMYRNA, Tenn. (March 13, 2022) – For the second consecutive season and second time in program history, the Mount Bowling team is heading to the Intercollegiate Team National Championships. After a marathon of 64 baker games, The Mount placed third out of 16 teams in total pinfall to secure one of the four advancing spots to Chicago next month.
 
Day one set up the push to the finals, placing the Mountaineers a mere seven pins out of the top four. Freshman Rachel Hines led a balanced scoring attack on tough, low scoring conditions with an 18.59 baker frame average. Sophomore Alyssa Alexander was the next highest with an 18.38, followed by senior Tamera Stanton (18.36), senior Danielle Milo (18.34), junior Amanda Yeung (18.13) and senior Rebecca Dodson (18.00). The Mount posted eight four-game blocks of 646, 709, 793, 747, 731, 731, 807, and 715 in route to their current fifth place standing.
 
A strong second day of competition pushed the Mount into the top four. The opening four game block of 852 on Sunday catapulted the ladies from fifth to second and the squad would never fall lower than third for the remainder of the day.
 
Entering the final four games in a position round block, the Mount found themselves 40-pins ahead of fourth and 50-pins ahead of fifth. An 823 would seal the deal as fifth place North Carolina A&T failed to break 800. The other three teams from the Smyrna Sectional that will join the Mountaineers in Nashville are Savannah College of Art and Design (first), Maryville (second), and Pikeville (fourth). 
 
The four qualifying teams from the Smyrna Sectional will be joined by 12 other teams that qualified at separate sectional qualifiers to make up the 16 team national championship field. Those teams joining the Mount include Mount Mercy (first in Chicago), Lawrence Tech, Louisiana Tech, Duquesne, Sam Houston State (first in Dallas), Tulane, Stephen F. Austin, Wichita State, McKendree (first in Dayton), Delaware State, Saint Xavier, and St. Francis-Illinois. Nine of the 16 qualifying teams are NCAA programs. ITC Nationals is scheduled to take place the last week of April. The ISC finals will also take place that same week in Chicago. The Mount will be represented by Stanton and Dodson after both bowlers qualified as individuals on Friday.
 
"We kind of knew this was the big weekend we needed to save our season," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "We have been through a lot these past few weeks just trying to rediscover some of that magic we had just over a month ago. Bowling is a humbling game. The difference between a 200 average and a 180 average is so minimal, a mistake a game really. We needed this weekend to not only qualify for the ITC finals, but also to build momentum to NEC Championships next week. Needless to say, I think we did just that. We are back. I am so proud of these ladies for trusting the game plan and mentally letting the highs ride out the lows in one of the biggest mental grind competitions you will see in any sport. 64 baker games are no joke, but they did an excellent job taking it one shot at a time."
 
Before the Mountaineers take their crack at the ITC National Championship, they must first take on their NCAA postseason responsibilities. That begins with an opportunity to win the NEC Championship March 23-26 at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton Township, N.J. The Mount will enter the tournament as the two-seed in a double elimination four team bracket and open against the No. 3 seed Duquesne. The winner of the NEC will gain an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.