SMYRNA, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team recorded two more wins against ranked opponents as the Pioneers finished 15th at the Music City Classic. The three-day, 19-team tournament was held at Smyrna Lanes and hosted by Vanderbilt University.
After starting the tournament 1-4, Tusculum bounced back winning five of its last eight matches including four victories over nationally-ranked opponents in one of the strongest NCAA women's bowling events in the country.
Tusculum opened the morning with a seven-game marathon battle against Alabama State. ASU won the first game 175-161, but TU answered with a 200-131 win in the second game. Alabama State won the third game 199-185, but the Pioneers battled back to win the next two games by scores of 219-181 and 190-160. But Alabama State won the final two games including 234-145 in the final stanza to advance.
Tusculum would face No. 22 UAB in the second Baker 7-Game Playoff as the Pioneers came away with an impressive 4-2 win over the Blazers. TU dominated the first game 211-139, before UAB edged the Black and Orange in the second 159-156. UAB took a 2-1 lead in the match by winning the third game 188-148. But Tusculum would win the next three games including 190-164 in the sixth to claim the victory.
The Pioneers would have a rematch with 23rd-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, who TU defeated on Saturday. Tusculum continued that momentum by sweeping Whitewater in four games to claim 15th-place.
McKendree, the No. 1 team in the country, claimed the tournament title by defeating fifth-ranked Nebraska 4-2 in the championship match. North Carolina A&T finished third, followed by Louisiana Tech, Tulane, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Central Missouri, Vanderbilt, Maryville (Mo.), Lincoln Memorial, Valparaiso, Alabama State, Jackson State, Tusculum, Wisconsin-Whitewater, UAB, Kentucky Wesleyan and Spalding.
The Pioneers (17-21) return to action this weekend as they travel to Greensboro, North Carolina for the Stallings Invitational.
