ADDISON, Ill. (April 23, 2022) – A magical season and postseason run came to an end at the Intercollegiate Team Championships for Mount Bowling. The event, hosted by the United States Bowling Congress, is a national championship competition amongst the best teams in the NCAA, NAIA, and UBSC Collegiate.
 
Three victories highlight the Mount's run at USBC's. These wins, combined with the three earned at NCAA's two weeks earlier, cap off a spectacular start to the upstart program – now in its fourth season.
 
The Mount qualified by virtue of placing third out of 16 teams at the Nashville sectional qualifier in March, joining 15 other teams who earned their spots at four sectional locations across the country. Teams rolled 24 games of qualifying before being seeded for the double elimination best-of-seven championship bracket. The Mount placed an impressive fourth in qualifying with a 4,274 team total. Last year, the ladies qualified 16th.
 
The Mountaineers would open up with the 14-seeded Cougars of St. Xavier, an NAIA institution. The teams would swap wins to begin 2-2, before the Mount faltered on makeable spares down the stretch to fall 4-2 and drop into the losers bracket.
 
Knowing one more loss would mean the end of their season, the Mountaineers dug deep in a 4-3 win over a familiar opponent in NEC foe Duquesne. The Dukes took the opening two games, before the Mount rallied to take the next two. The teams swapped wins again before setting up a must win game for both teams to keep their season alive. It came down to the tenth frame with senior Barbara Hawes in the anchor position needing the first two strikes to clinch the victory. She did just that and moved the Mountaineers into the round of 12.
 
Next up for the Mountaineers were the Hornets of Delaware State, yet another NCAA opponent. The Mountaineers quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead, before the resilient Hornets answered with two straight. The Mountaineers sealed it in six, however, moving them on to the Elite 8 in an NCAA Regional Final rematch with the #1 McKendree Bearcats. The ladies came to play, shooting all four games over 190 and sweeping the 2022 NCAA Champions 4-0. In game four senior Rebecca Dodson needed the first two strikes in the tenth to send MCK packing and delivered.
 
Within two matches of the TV show, the Mount's magical run finally came to an end in a heartbreaking 3-4 defeat to Pikeville, a perennial power from Kentucky. The ladies built a 3-1 lead but missed makeables proved costly in game five. Game six saw the Mountaineers rally for a 226, only for Pikeville to answer with a 260. In game seven, the ladies fell one pin short 178-177 to end the season fifth. The top five showing was a huge improvement from 12th last season.
 
Stephen F. Austin State University would go on to win the ITC National Championship, sweeping Wichita State 4-0 in the title match. Dodson would be named to the ITC All-Tournament team and senior Tamera Stanton was voted by coaches as the Chris Stoeher Sportsmanship Award winner out of all female participants at the ITCs.
 
Before the team competed, Dodson and Stanton made their own strides in the Intercollegiate Singles Championship. Stanton earned a bye in qualifying and the #5 seed for the tournament and both made the final 16 bowlers in the competition. A Stephen F. Austin challenger took the contest with Stanton by 24 pins, but Dodson overcame her tough challenge against #1 overall seed Mary Orf from Wichita State to advance. She then faced familiar foe Olivia Farwell from Duquesne, who held off Dodson's effort with two strikes in the tenth for a seven pin win.
 
The tournament marks the last competition the inaugural class in Mount Bowling history will compete in. Returners from this weekend's competition roster will include Rachel Hines, Hawes, Alyssa Alexander, and Amanda Yeung. 
 
USBC ITC Nationals Scores
Saint Xavier 4, Mount St. Mary's 2
Mount St. Mary's 4, Duquesne 3
Mount St. Mary's 4, Delaware State 2
Mount St. Mary's 4, McKendree 0
Pikeville 4, Mount St. Mary's 3