LAS VEGAS, Nev. (January 9, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's bowling took care of the two Texas teams they faced during the second day of the Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic at the South Point Hotel & Casino. This included a win over the #5 ranked Stephen F. Austin LadyJacks.
As qualifying wraps up, the Mount entrenched themselves in 10
th place – their position at the start of play Monday – and finished with a pinfall of 9,313.
Anchor
Alyssa Alexander averaged 185.4 across the second play to lead the team.
Sierra Calo had the high game, posting a 267 in the win over Texas Southern.
#15 Mount: 1,063 | Texas Southern: 904
With the objective of advancing in the field clear, the Mount got off to a fantastic start. Posting their highest score of the day they built a lead on the Tigers at a steady pace. Freshman
Trishelle Leal Uribe was right behind Calo with a 254 to lift the total. The effort put the Mountaineers within striking distance of Tulane and Stephen F. Austin for eighth and ninth place.
#15 Mount: 864 | #1 McKendree: 1,056
For a time Mount St. Mary's was keeping pace with the top team in the land. That momentum began to lose steam as the game crossed the midway point. Alexander crossed the 200 threshold for the first time Monday with a 203. Despite the score, the teams ahead of them remained in sight with the Green Wave up next.
#15 Mount: 830 | #17 Tulane: 942
Thoughts of leaping Tulane in the standings were thwarted in the opening frames as the lull suffered at the end of the McKendree game carried into this match. The Mount rallied late to earn the 800 set, thanks in large measure to a 209 from
Laney Wells.
#15 Mount: 875 | #3 Vanderbilt: 1,044
A slight improvement against the Commodores was not enough to keep pace with the opposition, vying to clinch second place heading to bracket play. Alexander earned a 209 to lead the Mount.
#15 Mount: 949 | #5 Stephen F. Austin: 946
Head coach
Kenneth DeGraaf made lineup switches for the finale and it paid off as the Mount edged SFA. Relying on a veteran presence,
Barbara Hawes led the charge with a 223 game, followed
Amanda Yeung with a 186. Wells' scored wedged in between the two with a 192.
Bracket play begins at 11 a.m. Eastern (8 a.m. Pacific) with a rematch against the Tulane Green Wave, who hold the ninth seed. A clean sweep Tuesday can put Mount St. Mary's as high as seventh place in the bracket.
