WILMINGTON, Del. - - The Wilmington University bowling team closed out the regular season with a fourth-place finish while hosting the Northeast Roundup at Bowlerama on Saturday and Sunday.
In what was the final tune-up before the East Coast Conference Tournament next weekend, the Wildcats moved from sixth place on Saturday to fourth place on Sunday.
On Saturday, the team participated in five traditional matches, going 3-2 and finishing in sixth place, despite being only 98 pins away from second place overall.
The team defeated Kutztown, 989-880, to start the day before falling to Fairleigh Dickinson and Mercyhurst. Saturday finished with wins over Chestnut Hill, 911-847, and Bloomfield, 900-887.
Individually, Malia Stout led the Wildcats with an 11th place finish, putting down 976 pins for a 195.20 average. She had a day's high 206 in the final match of the day while also putting down 203 against Mercyhurst.
Desiree Dent finished 17th overall with a five-match total of 947 (189.40 average), putting down a day's high 205 against Chestnut Hill.
Rachel Hirst was the only other Wildcat to record a five-match total, finishing in 29th overall with an 892 (178.40 average). She tallied a day's best 188 against Fairleigh Dickinson.
CC Riojas had the Wildcats' best match, bowling a 234 in the win against Kutztown, bowling four matches for a 729 (182.25 average). KC Miller bowled three matches for a 568 total (189.33 average), bowling a 207 against Mercyhurst. Sydney Jones bowled three matches for the Wildcats, putting down 202 pins in the match against Kutztown, finishing with a 489 (163.00 average).
On Sunday, the Wildcats played in three baker matches before finishing the tournament with a baker bracket match.
The day started with the Wildcats' best showing of the weekend, defeating Wagner, 1,036-1,010. But then the Wildcats dropped baker matches to St. Francis (Pa.), 966-891, and Adelphi, 977-915.
Those scores moved the Wildcats into fourth place for bracket play, finding themselves against Adelphi for third place once again.
The Wildcats started the baker match with a 191-190 win against the Panthers, but then Adelphi answered with a 213-170 win in game two. The Panthers moved ahead with a 202-191 game three win and again with a 189-172 victory. The Wildcats won the final game, 236-179, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers won, 973-960.
The Wildcats will travel to Coram, New York, to take part in the ECC Championships. The tournament starts on Friday at the Coram County Lanes.