DEKALB, Ill. — The Carthage women's bowling team came up just short in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship match against undefeated Marian University this Sunday afternoon. 

The No. 3 seed Firebirds advanced to the tournament title after defeating No. 2 seed Aurora on Sunday morning. The Firebirds won both its traditional (958-840) and total pin fall Baker (921-843) matches over the Spartans.

The top-seeded Sabres opened Sunday afternoon's championship with a 965-792 win in the traditional match. But Carthage followed with a 921-843 victory in the total pin fall Baker match, followed by four wins in a best-of-seven Baker match that forced a seventh and final tournament contest.

Marian claimed the title in the decisive Match 7 as the Sabres won four out of five head-to-head matches in a best-of-seven Baker. 

The team knocked the Carroll Pioneers out of the tournament yesterday afternoon to continue on today. They also lost to the Aurora Spartans in round one, who they beat today to continue to the final match.

Sophomore Cassie Hyland was named the Elite 25 winner for bowling today, which is presented to a student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 25 sponsored sports.

2022 CCIW Bowling Elite 25 Recipient 
Cassie Hyland - Carthage
Academic Major: Psychology
GPA: 4.0

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