SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Milligan women's bowling team competed in the SSAC Conference Championship on Friday and Saturday in Georgia, concluding their weekend with a hard-fought runner-up finish with SCAD Savannah outlasting the Buffs.
Milligan began their event on Friday with a simple win over No. 4-seeded Mobile in the opening match of the tournament. The Buffaloes won 923-756 in the lone team game, with
Emily Cheesman pacing the squad with 240 pins knocked over. Then, in four baker games, Milligan won 717-621 to clinch the 2-0 win, winning all four baker games.
The Buffaloes concluded Friday night's action by battling the No. 2-seeded Bees of SCAD Savannah. The matchup started favorably for the Buffs, as a 948-907 team game victory gave them a 1-0 lead heading into the four-baker series.
Paige Fortier bowled a stellar 233 pins in the game. Unfortunately for Milligan, the Bees totaled 803 pins across four baker games to topple the Buffs, who had 752. The tiebreaker was a best-of-five baker series, as a 2-0 lead was quickly grabbed by SCAD Savannah, but Milligan won the next two games to tie the score. The winner-take-all game went in the Bees' favor, though, giving SCAD a 3-2 (245-224, 179-170, 201-209, 193-216, 245-191) win. That sent Milligan into the semifinal round in a win-or-go-home scenario in a best-of-seven baker series on Saturday.
The best-of-seven baker series was against No. 3-seeded SCAD Atlanta. It took the Buffaloes all seven games, but they ended up with a 4-3 (183-213, 176-139, 199-184, 140-181, 166-175, 135-126, 169-168) win, eventually winning the seventh contest by just a single pin to make it into the final round.
SCAD Savannah awaited Milligan in the final, as the traditional team game and four baker games would be played. The Bees beat out the Buffaloes by a 922-904 score in the team game. Cheesman (211) and Fortier (206) led the team as the only two players to finish with over 200 pins. The Bees outdueled Milligan in the four bakers, as well, eliminating MU by a slim margin of 734-730.
As part of the championships, Milligan had five of their players named to the All-SSAC Teams. Cheesman was selected as the lone member of the conference's First Team, while
Laci MacQuisten, Fortier,
Emily King and
Emilee Horton snatched Second Team honors.
Milligan had five All-Academic Team honorees, with
Gianna Bringham, Cheesman, Horton, King and MacQuisten notching the accolades. Bringham was also selected as the program's Champions of Character representative.
The Buffaloes will now wait on the NAIA selection committee's decision on if the Buffaloes will receive an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championships in Lansing, Mich. From March 19-21. Prior to that, the team will be heading to Pittsburgh, Pa. for the USBC ISC/ITC Sectionals on March 13-15.
RESULTS
