DYER, Ind. - The UIndy women's bowling team competed at the Valpo Classic over the weekend, finishing the three-day tournament in seventh place at Starudst Bowl 3.

Graduate student Ebony Ward finished a team-best 11th overall, missing out on the top five by just 49 pins. The lefty rolled a 221 in the final game of the traditional format, marking the third time this fall Ward has recorded 220+.

Gracie Tharp joined Ward in the top 20 with a 19th-place finish.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The tournament started with the Baker format on Friday, Oct 25, where the Greyhounds would play five Baker games per matchup. The Hounds went 2-2 on the day, picking up wins against Carroll and Elmhurst, with losses to No. 19 Valparaiso and No. 22 Wisconsin Whitewater. Total pinfall from Friday was 3,936, while the team's highest match score was 827 in the loss against the host Beacons.

Saturday brought forth an individual scoring format, where the Hounds faced a tough field of competition and failed to pick up a win in all four matches. In their third match, UIndy narrowly fell to Wisconsin Whitewater by 25 pins, as MaKayla Hampton fought to keep the team in the match with a team-high 210. The Hounds suffered another close defeat in the matchup against Carroll, falling by just 20 pins. Tharp rolled a 184 to lead the Greyhounds.

The tandem of Ward and Tharp led the Hounds in scoring against Carroll, totaling 182 and 184, respectively. The team earned their best score in the last match of the traditional format, totaling an 829. Ward rolled a 221 in the final game of the traditional format, marking the third time this fall Ward has recorded 220+.

The final day of the tournament was a best-of-seven Baker bracket play format, where UIndy drew Elmhurst in its first contest. The Hounds took the Bluejays to 6 games, but ultimately came up short. 

UP NEXT
The Hounds will travel to St. Charles, Mo., next weekend to compete in the Lions Classic USBC tournament.