DOUGLASSVILLE, Pa. - - Freshman KC Miller was named the Molloy Bowl for the Cure Tournament MVP on Saturday, as the Wilmington University bowling team placed third overall while competing in five traditional matches.
The Wildcats went 2-3 overall, but their overall pin fall of 4,807 (192.3 average) ranks third among the 10 teams at the tournament. No. 13 ranked Mount St. Mary's won the Traditional Tournament with a five-game total of 4,976 pins (199.0 average) while No. 21 Adelphi finished second with a total of 4,959 (198.4 average).
Wilmington finished two matches with more than 1,000 pins, first in a loss to #21 Adelphi, and again in a win over Felician.
The day started with tie for the Wildcats, battling Coppin State to a like score of 869. Coppin State went on to defeat the Wildcats in the roll-off. The Wildcats then bowled their best match of the day, despite falling to #21 Adelphi. Their score of 1,051 pins was the third most in program history in a traditional match for the Wildcats.
A pair of wins came back-to-back for the Wildcats, as they defeated Chestnut Hill, 888-874, and then had their sixth best traditional match in program history with a 1,005 to 859 victory over Felician. The team then matched up with Kutztown for their fifth match of the day, but couldn't keep the momentum going, falling to the Golden Bear, 1,019 to 994, to end the day.
Freshman KC Miller was two pins away from bowling all five matches with a score of 200 or more, finishing with the second best five-match total in program history with a 1,084 pin-fall (216.80 average). She had her second-best match of her season with a 236 against #21 Adelphi, adding games of 225 against Kutztown, 213 against Coppin State, and a 212 against Felician. She also bowled a 198 against Chestnut Hill. She bested the field by 11 pins.
Rachel Hirst finished eighth overall for the Wildcats, bowling a 1,016 for a 203.20 five-match average. It is the junior's third 1,000-five match total in her career, making it her second best total score to date. She owns three of the six 1,000-pin day's in the program's history. She bowled a 245 against #21 Adelphi, her second best individual match in her career. She also bowled a 225 against Kutztown, and a 215 against Felician on Saturday.
Bailey Peters finished 19th overall on Saturday, bowling a 955 for a 191 average. Her day finished on a high note, bowling a 217 against Kutztown. She also had games of 194 against Chestnut Hill, and a 192 against Felician.
Malia Stout had the team's best individual match of the day, finishing in 26th overall with a five-match total of 908 (181.60 average). She knocked down 249 pins against Felician, the seventh best match in program history.
CC Riojas rounded out the Wildcats on the lanes on Saturday, bowling an 844 for a 168.80 average. She had a day's best 212 against #21 Adelphi, and finished with a 186 against Kutztown.
The Wildcats will continue the Bowl for the Cure on Sunday, resetting the scoresheet and starting fresh with a Baker format tournament. The Wildcats will play Kutztown, Molloy, #13 Mount St. Mary's, and Mercyhurst before a fifth match after the seedings have been decided.