Women’s Bowling qualifies for bracket play at Tier 1 Columbia 300 Hoosier Classic

INDIANAPOLIS (February 11, 2024) – The Milligan University women's bowling team qualified for bracket play at the Tier 1 Columbia 300 Hoosier Classic in Indianapolis over the weekend. The Buffs finished sixth of 66 teams in one of the biggest collegiate tournaments of the season.

"To say I'm proud of these young ladies is an understatement," said head coach Brian Rickert. "We were able to hold our own against the best teams in the country and prove we belong in the conversation with those that can win it all this year."

The tournament schedule included six team games, 15 baker games and bracket play for the top eight teams. Through six team games on Saturday, the Buffs were ninth in the team standings with 5,881 pins. Milligan jumped to sixth in the standings on Sunday to qualify for backet play.

"We executed shots, read the lane transition, made smart ball choices and overall put together our best tournament in our short two-year history," said Rickert. "We set the program record for team game, five game baker set and tournament average. It was truly a complete team effort!"

Emily Cheesman notched a top-25 individual finish with 1,262 pins (210.33 average) to place 23rd. She went over 200 pins in four of six games, including a 267 in the opening game.

Laci MacQuisten finished 29th with 1,249 pins (208.17 pins). She cleared at least 195 pins in all six games with a high game of 248.

Taylor Davis averaged 197.0 pins in three individual games with a high of 204. Brianna Rickert was 74th by logging 1,170 pins (195.0 average). She had two games over 200, including a 234 effort in the opener.

Allison Robbins averaged 190.5 pins (1,143 total) across six games to finish 96th.

The Buffs posted the fifth-highest 15 game baker total of 2,907 pins (193.8 average). Milligan went over 200 pins three times with a high game of 234.

The Buffs matched up with conference rival and NAIA No. 1-ranked SCAD Savannah in a best-of-three quarterfinal. The Bees moved on to the semifinals with a 2-0 victory.

"Even though we couldn't get anything going in our bracket match against SCAD-Sav on a terrifically difficult oil pattern, we absolutely learned for our next match with them at the SSAC Conference Tournament," said Rickert. "We will be ready to try and defend our title!"

The Buffs head to the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships in two weeks.