DEKALB, Ill. - After falling to Marian (Wis.) in the previous two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Bowling Tournament championship matches, the Carthage Firebirds avenged those losses - bowling at an incredibly-high level to capture the program's first conference tournament title. 

Despite a loss to Marian earlier in the tournament, Carthage took down the Sabres in a Mega Match to set up a championship-defining best-of-seven baker match on day two. The Firebirds won 4-2, providing a thrilling conclusion to what has shaped up to a be a riveting-rivalry in the conference. 

The tournament championship comes after the Firebirds shared the regular season title with Marian - the first CCIW championship in program history. Carthage's season has been nothing short of stellar, as the team also earned a coach of the year honor (head women's bowling coach Katelyn Zwiefelhofer), a first-team all-conference honor (Caitlin Powers), a second-team all-conference honor (Cassie Hyland), and the first national ranking in program history (ranked No. 14 by the National Tenpin Coaches Association during the season).  



 

• Result: First place out of four teams
• Location: Mardi Gras Lanes - DeKalb, Illinois

  
Day One:

• The No. 2 seed Firebirds faced off with Aurora University in their opening-round matchup, which utilized the "Mega Match Format." The Mega Match is a best-of-three format that consists of a five-person team match, a baker match based on pinfall, and a best-of-seven baker match. Carthage defeated Aurora in the team match but fell 13 pins short in the baker match, setting up a winner-take-all best-of-seven baker match. The Firebirds dominated the Spartans, winning 4-0 to move forward. 
• Carthage's win over Aurora set up a crucial battle with No. 1 Marian (Wis.) in match three of the tournament. Marian took care of Carthage, winning the first two components without having to play a best-of-seven baker match. With the loss, Carthage was knocked down to a situation where it needed to win three times to secure the tournament crown. 

Day Two: 

• No. 2 Carthage and No. 3 North Central was the second matchup of day two, with the winner set to take on Marian and the loser set to finish third; in the first match of the day, North Central beat Aurora to ensure at least a third-place finish at the event. The Firebirds handled North Central, setting up a heavyweight clash in match six. If Carthage fell in match six, Marian would be crowned champions and Carthage would finish second to Marian for the third-consecutive season. 
• The Firebirds defeated Marian in the Mega Match to set up a championship-defining best-of-seven baker match; Carthage erased an incredible 982 pins to take the team match before Marian answered with 986 pins in a baker match to set up a best-of-seven baker match, which Carthage won 4-1. 
• With a title on the line, the Firebirds, with immense pressure and a two-year-sized chip on their shoulders, bowled with a great deal of inspiration and fight - taking down the Sabres 4-2 to clinch the program's first CCIW Tournament championship. 

 

• 1. No. 2 Carthage 
• 2. No. 1 Marian (Wis.)
• 3. No. 4 North Central (Ill.)
• 4. No. 3 Aurora (Ill.) ​​​​​​