(HIGHLAND, Indiana) – The Statesmen Women’s Bowling Team gained great experience in a big-time national tournament setting as it battled at the NAIA Invitational Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24.

William Penn University rolled in 24 Baker games before facing off against the NAIA’s best in bracket play. The navy and gold finished 11th out of 20 teams with 4,464 pins (186.0 average), while Indiana Tech claimed the top seed with 4,781 pins (199.2 average).

By finishing in the top 12, the Statesmen received a bye in the double-elimination format and took on #6 seed Grand View in the second round. Unfortunately, the squad came up just short in a 3-2 loss (204-201, 171-245, 189-180, 176-207, 215-268).

WPU was demoted to the consolation bracket and failed to move on, ending its trip at 0-2 with a 3-1 setback to #14 Marian (Ind.) (175-195, 158-258, 197-168, 150-252).

This is the final year the NAIA will have an Invitational as next year the sport moves to Championship status.

Team members included Nicole Craft (So., Wakefield, Neb., Physical Education), Abbey Fangman (Fr., Waterloo, Iowa, Elementary Education), Audra Farley (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Education), Kaylee Gerken (Jr., Dubuque, Iowa, Elementary Education), Kayla Gifford (So., Camanche, Iowa, Biology), Nicole Mottier (Fr., Madison, Wis., Computer Science), Amber Ovel (Jr., Waterloo, Iowa, Business Management), and Bailey Palmer (So., Ottumwa, Iowa, Undecided).

This story was provided in a news release sent on behalf of William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.