Women’s Bowling claims SSAC Championship

SAVANNAH, Ga. (February 25, 2023) – In its first year of competition, the Milligan University women's bowling team claimed the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) championship at Bowlero Savannah on Saturday afternoon.

After 20 games of qualifying and accounting for regular season RPI, Milligan earned the third seed in the three-team SSAC bracket.

"Our goal for the women was to use qualifying to figure out our strategy for match play," said head coach Brian Rickert. "Once we knew we were going to be the three seed, we tried some different lineups and equipment and figured out a couple things."

In the opening game of bracket play the Buffs edged No. 17 SCAD Atlanta 4-3. In all four of the Buffs' victories, Milligan scored at least 193 pins with three games over 200. The Bees held a 3-2 advantage through five games but the Buffs took the sixth game 211-190 and the winner-take-all seventh game 222-192.

Against top-seeded and NAIA's No. 1-ranked team SCAD Savannah, the Buffs rolled to a 4-1 victory to punch their ticket to the championship round. The Buffs notched winning scores of 205, 203 and 201 to jump out to a 3-0 lead. After the Bees took game four, Milligan knocked SCAD Savannah into the elimination bracket with a 236-207 victory and moved on to the championship round.

"Our focus all day today was to let the other teams feel the pressure and to focus on doing what we do," said Rickert. "Release each shot to the best of our ability and make our spares. We were blessed to have found some great lines to the pocket and just kept striking."

SCAD Atlanta met Milligan in the championship and forced an if-necessary round by winning 4-1.

In the final championship round, the Buffs earned a 4-1 victory to clinch the SSAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships in March.

"These ladies perform each and every game for each other," said Rickert. "We love each other and push one another to be the best we can be. It's a special group and one I am humbled to be a part of. I know we will give it everything we have in Michigan in a few weeks."

Milligan heads to its first-ever appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Sectionals on Smyrna, Tenn. in two weeks.

Milligan Bracket Play Results

Women's Round 3
Milligan defeated SCAD Atlanta 4-3
93-162, 183-194, 221-163, 154-195, 155-192, 211-190, 222-192
 
Women's Round 4
Milligan def. SCAD Savannah 4-1
205-174, 203-168, 201-129, 155-189, 236-207
 
Women's Finals
SCAD Atlanta def. Milligan 4-1
200-191, 187-186, 164-170, 192-166, 219-180
 
If Necessary Match
Milligan def. SCAD Atlanta 4-1
193-172, 162-189, 237-153, 185-158, 236-178