WSU women’s bowling wins two matches at national tournament

Bowling, especially when played by 10 competitors at a time, offers almost no predictive components. Momentum is a carefully guarded term unlocked only after games and matches are won.

Wichita State’s women’s team, competing in the intercollegiate team championship at Northrock Lanes, went through all phases of that theory over 12 games on Thursday night.

After a back-and-forth 4-3 first-round win over Wright State, the Shockers defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 4-1 in Round 2 to advance to Friday’s winners bracket semifinals. Until the championship round, the matches are played in best-of-seven series.

Wichita State’s men and Newman’s women each lost in the first round, dropping them to losers bracket play beginning Friday morning. Each team is hoping to advance to Saturday’s best-of-three final.

WSU’s women are two matches away from the championship round.

“We just kind of take it shot-to-shot and allow ourselves to (accept) whatever happens on the lanes,” Wichita State sophomore Sydney Brummett said. “We’re just trying to make the best shot possible and if that means we win the game, that means we win the game.”

The Shockers and Wright State traded victories in the first round, with Wichita State taking the odd-numbered games. The Shockers’ scores ranged from 182 to 258 and the games were decided by an average of more than 37 points. One game after winning 258-161, Wichita State lost 235-182.

The story was similar for Newman and Wichita State’s men. Newman’s seven games were decided by, on average, 43 points – the Jets scored 279 in Game 6 but 156 in a game-seven loss. The Shocker men were ousted in five games, never topping 193 pins.

The tournament uses Baker games, in which five players – with occasional substitutions – bowl two frames apiece. Longer waits between turns and lane conditions can make for an unpredictable environment.

“It’s always really hard to come back after a loss,” Wichita State Hollyann Johansen said. “I think when you lose it, you really have to build it back up. You have to double your momentum going into the next game. We really did that today and it really showed in the second match.”

The Shockers won the first three against Wisconsin-Whitewater, firmly establishing positive trends. They had 24 strikes in those wins, including a stretch of seven in a row in Game 3. Eight players rolled strikes for WSU, even though three played one frame apiece, and Johansen had strikes in all of her six turns.

When WSU began to lose it, though, it went relatively quickly. The Shockers started Game 4 with four straight strikes but didn’t have another until the ninth frame. Wisconsin-Whitewater finished with six strikes and three spares to earn its only victory.

“If that means we’re down 3-0, up 3-0 or tied 3-3, it’s always the same philosophy,” Brummett said.

The Shockers had another seven strikes in Game 5 but won thanks to a mistake. Wisconsin-Whitewater likely would have extended the series with a 10th-frame spare, but was unable to pick it up and Dasha Kovlova’s 29 points in the frame won it for WSU.

Sometimes, miscues create momentum.

“It’s unfortunate to see other teams go out like that, but at the same time anything can happen,” Johansen said. “You have to take advantage of the shots that you do have.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:53 PM with the headline "WSU women’s bowling wins two matches at national tournament."