WAUKESHA — The Carthage College women's bowling team opened its conference slate over the weekend at the CCIW No. 1 Tournament, hosted by Carroll (Wis.) at Sunset Bowl.
The Firebirds faced a demanding lineup on day one, which featured four traditional-game matches. Carthage opened against Marian, last season's conference champion, and stayed within reach through the first five frames before Marian created separation late. The second match followed a similar pattern, as Aurora pulled away in the eighth frame after several missed spare opportunities.
Carthage continued its day against Carroll, last year's league runner-up. The Firebirds again remained competitive through the early frames, but mid-match spare miscues allowed Carroll to build a decisive lead. Carthage closed the day on a high note, securing a steady win over Illinois Wesleyan to finish the opening session at one and three.
Day two featured five-game Baker matches. The Firebirds opened with a scheduled bye before taking on Elmhurst. After dropping the first game, Carthage responded with three wins in the next four to claim the match. The Firebirds then met Augustana in a tightly contested finale. Carthage tied the opening game and won the next two to build a fifty-three–pin advantage with two games left. Augustana cut into the lead in game four, leaving Carthage ahead by six entering the final frame. The match remained close until the tenth, where missed spares proved costly as the Firebirds fell in the final game. Carthage finished tied for fourth at two and four.
The weekend included several standout performances. Sophomore
Airie Frost placed ninth individually, while freshman
Emmary Arciniega-Sanchez finished 19th.
On day one, junior
Maxine Lathrop converted every single-pin spare, Frost made sixty-five percent of multi-pin spares, senior
Isabel Gonzalez struck at a thirty-three percent rate, and Frost posted a seventy-five percent fill rate.
On day two, Gonzalez converted eighty percent of single-pin spares, Frost made seventy-five percent of multi-pin attempts, Gonzalez struck at a forty-four percent clip, and Frost recorded an eighty-two percent fill rate.
Following Thanksgiving break, Carthage will conclude its fall schedule at the Warhawk Open on December six and seven at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Ill.
