By: Story from Belmont Abbey Athletic Communications

PITTSBURGH Pa. - Belmont Abbey advanced out of the opening round of the NCAA Bowling Regionals for the third straight year on Thursday, jumping out to an early lead, then rallying for a 2-1 victory over Saint Vincent College. The Crusaders won the traditional team match by a score of 918-876 to take a 1-0 lead, then rallied in the best-of-seven Baker series to earn a spot in the double-elimination bracket.

The Abbey will now face third-seed Arkansas State University Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. (ET), looking to advance to the winners bracket. A second match would follow at 2:30 p.m..

Alexis Tignor led the Crusaders in the individual round with a 222. She had seven strikes and three spares, leaving only the sixth frame open. Tara Kuster rolled 192 with four strikes and five spares, while Canan Bademci totaled 175. Aubrey Lloyd (173) and Kiersten Michel (154) rounded out the scoring for the 42-pin win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Mega-Match.

In Baker total pinfall format, Saint Vincent dominated, sweeping the five games 956-812 to even the match. The best-of-seven Baker games decider started with a sixth straight win by the Bearcats, but the Crusaders rallied. They had only strikes and spares for the next 27 frames, taking a 3-1 lead.

In the final Baker match, there were three straight strikes to start, before a dip. Bademci struck in the ninth to keep The Abbey ahead before Kuster got a 6-spare-8 to clinch the match.


MEGA-MATCH (Belmont Abbey wins 2-1)

TEAM GAME (Belmont Abbey wins 918-876 and leads 1-0)

• Alexis Tignor -- 222
• Tara Kuster -- 192
• Canan Bademci -- 175
• Aubrey Lloyd -- 173
• Kiersten Michel -- 156

FIVE-GAME BAKER TOTAL PINFALL (Saint Vincent wins 956-812, match tied 1-1)
 

Team	1	2	>3	4	5	TOTAL
Belmont Abbey	186	159	166	151	150	812
Saint Vincent	213	193	216	154	180	956

BEST-OF-SEVEN BAKER SERIES (Belmont Abbey wins 4-1)
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	SCORE
Belmont Abbey	160	211	224	199	168	4
Saint Vincent	167	152	188	159	161	1