Huskers Advance to NCAA Championship Match

North Brunswick, N.J. – For the fourth year in a row, the Nebraska women’s bowling team will be represented in the NCAA Championship match. The Cornhuskers defeated McKendree, 4-3, to set up a rematch of last year’s final with Stephen F. Austin, which NU won to take the 2015 NCAA Championship.

The match against the Ladyjacks is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday evening and will be televised on ESPNU and streamed on WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.

In the first game, the Huskers used five strikes in the final four frames to cruise past McKendree, 222-160. The Bearcats used a strong finish in game two to take down NU 220-190 to even the match at one game apiece.

The Huskers used a complete performance in game three to post their highest score of the day in a 258-173 victory, before matching that score in a 258-172 win to take a commanding 3-1 lead.

McKendree bounced back with a 227-204 victory in game five, and the Bearcats used three strikes in the final frame to force a decisive game seven, taking game six 180-168.

In game seven, Julia Bond used a clutch spare and strike in the 10th frame to lead the Huskers to a 217-214 victory.

Stephen F. Austin swept past North Carolina A&T, 4-0, to set up the rematch of last year’s championship match.

In elimination matches on Saturday morning, McKendree defeated Arkansas State to knock the Red Wolves out of the tournament, while North Carolina A&T eliminated Sam Houston State with a 4-2 victory.

The Huskers have now made the championship match in eight of the 13 years the NCAA has sponsored bowling. The Huskers have won NCAA titles in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015.

Following the match, the trophy presentation will air on WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. The match will also be rebroadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. (CT).