Junior Emma Stull had three traditional matches of 259 points or better this season.
Arkansas State bowling took runner-up honors in the NCAA National Championship as Nebraska won the best-of-seven series trailing 3-1 deficit early.
The Red Wolves took games one and two quickly to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Arkansas State won game one, 191-156 and game two, 189-171. Vanderbilt fought back in game three with a 215-198 victory, but A-State won game four 196-159 to take a 3-1 series lead.
Vanderbilt won game five 205-156. A 3-10 spare conversion in the 10th minute enabled the Commodores secure a 193-187 victory in game six to force the deciding game seven. With a score of 193-160, Vanderbilt won the championship.
“We have to build off this momentum and learn from this match. When you put yourselves in this position year after year, good things will happen, but we have to work for it,” Head Coach Justin Kostick said.
A-State has finished as runner-ups three times. First in 2008 and second in 2021.
“I think what really stands out is how far we’ve come. I think it was a rough start for a little bit, but we’ve worked hard together. Our grit and determination is impressive,” Junior Emma Stull said.
Arkansas State has been used to producing a large lead early in almost every tournament this season. A-State had only two losses in its last three tournaments, whether it is mega matches, traditional or baker, not counting the National Championship, the team has won every mega match with two points in its last two tournaments.
Sophomore Brooklyn Buchanan came up big for her squad, with 17 strikes despite the loss. Buchanan and Stull earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Buchanan’s stellar season ended with seven tournaments of more than 1,000 points. Buchanan also had season high performances with a 265 score in the Mid Winter Invitational (Stephen F. Austin) and 259 score in the Mid Winter Invitational (BYE).
Stull had a team-leading individual score of 279 in the Sunshine State Classic (Monmouth) and 259 score in the Sunshine State Classic (Florida A&M).
The team’s overall best performance was in the Sunshine State Classic (UAB), with a score of 1,206. A-State’s second best performance was in the NCAA Rochester Regional (Sacred Heart), scoring 1,151 points.
Arkansas State finished with an 82-30 record.
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