Evans Rolls First Women’s Perfect Game, WPU Takes Title at LV Collegiate Shoot-Out
Three Ranked First in Heart in Latest Polls
WPU opened the event by placing seventh out of 33 teams with 8,602 pins in six regular games and 16 Baker games. Wichita State (Kan.) paced qualifying with 8,914 pins.
Eight teams advanced to the playoffs with four teams in two separate four-game semifinals. The navy and gold met up with Ottawa (Kan.), Davenport (Mich.), and Saint Xavier (Ill.) in one semi and won the grouping with 828 pins (235-167-185-241). Ottawa also moved on by placing second with 756 pins.
William Penn then took on Ottawa, Wichita State, and St. Francis (Ill.) in the finals. Scores dipped quite a bit in the championship round, but the Statesmen weathered the difficult lanes the best with a winning score of 707 (160-190-211-146). The team’s 211 in the third round was the lone 200 score in the finals. St. Francis (Ill.) was a close second with 703 pins.
It is the program’s first win of the season and its seventh all-time. In addition to being the team’s first-ever Tier 1 tournament title, it also marks the first crown since taking the Clarke Invitational last year.
The team success was not the only incredible triumph for WPU at the Shoot-Out as Evans enjoyed a record-breaking achievement.
The senior was named all-tournament (top five) by placing third with a 217.0 average (1,302 pins). Her efforts were highlighted by the first perfect 300 game in school history. She accomplished the feat in the second round, breaking the old school record of 298, set by Briell Newberry back in 2016. Ironically, Newberry also set her record at the Las Vegas Collegiate Shoot-Out and also did it in the second round of individual play.
Olivia Daujatas of Saint Xavier paced the individual standings with a 219.0 pin average (1,314 pins).
Madison Ross (Sr., Charles City, Iowa, Exercise Science) performed well for the second-straight event, finishing 17th at 192.8 (1,157 pins). Kelcey Aczon (So., Las Vegas, Nev., Nursing) also started all six games with a 178.8 clip.
Olivia Nolte (Sr., Atkins, Iowa, Elementary Education), at 194.3, and Sammantha Meyers (Jr., Rockford, Ill., Elementary Education), at 190.0, both rolled four rounds, while Caitlin Radliff (Jr., Belleville, Ill., Software Engineering) posted a 165.5 average in two games.
Christy Mottier (Sr., Madison, Wis., Business Management) (145) and Cydnee Whiteleather (Sr., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Elementary Education) (114) each competed in one game.
“This week is exactly what our ladies needed,” Head Coach Kirstin Foster said. “It was a week where everything clicked and they performed like a team. We were just shy of making match play at the Glenn Carlson and we used that as motivation for this tournament.”
WPU had a reserve crew in the Shoot-Out as well and the team tallied 7,485 pins with Lucy Mitchell (Fr., Poulsbo, Wash., Psychology) leading the charge with a 174.8 average (1,049 pins).
“There were not many JV teams this week, so our team made it a goal to beat as many varsity squads as possible,” Head Coach Kirstin Foster said. “Both of our teams set out goals and they achieved them and more. I am so proud of what they accomplished and so happy they were able to be rewarded for all their hard work so far this season.”
Next Up: William Penn is off during the month of January, returning to action on February 3-4 when it travels to West Lawrence, Kan. to compete in the NAIA Weekend #1.
