Harahan, LA — (Contributed) — March 20, 2025 — Dropping the traditional match, the fifth-seeded Arkansas State women’s bowling team rallied back to defeat fourth-seeded Wichita State 2-1 in a mega-match Thursday at Colonial Lanes in round two of the Conference USA Championship.
Ranked No. 5 in the latest NTCA poll, Wichita State took the traditional portion of the mega-match 996-961. Saralyne Nassberg paced the Red Wolves with a total of 237, putting up strikes on her final six shots. Maggie Thoma totaled 203 while Karlie VanDuinen had 191, Amanda Lang had 180, and Kaylee Back totaled 150.
Facing a 1-0 deficit in the mega-match, A-State evened the match with a 1,060-1,009 Baker 5-game total pinfall tally. The Shockers got off to a 34-pin lead after the first game, 190-156, but the Red Wolves came back with a 264-149 margin in game two. Wichita State took game three 254-201 and game four, 200-181, but the Red Wolves took the final game 258-216 for the final margin.
A-State fell behind 1-0 in the Baker best-of-seven series with Wichita State taking game one, 226-224, but the Red Wolves took the next game three games to lead 3-1. A-State took game two 256-200, game three 212-185 and game four 227-210. The Shockers were able to force a decisive game seven by winning games five, 222-215, and six, 214-196. A-State clinched the match with a 227-203 triumph in game seven.
The Red Wolves meet top-seeded Jacksonville State in the winner’s bracket at 9 a.m. on Friday. The match airs on ESPN+.