Parma Heights, OH – Contributed – No. 2 Vanderbilt and No. 5 Wichita State downed the third-ranked Arkansas State women’s bowling team in the National Collegiate Bowling Championship Friday at Yorktown Lanes.
A-State finishes among the final four teams at the National Collegiate Bowling Championship for the fourth time in the last six seasons and seventh time in program history.
Vanderbilt got off to a hot start and took a 1-0 lead winning the traditional point 1,018-910 over A-State. Katie Ruszczak paced the Red Wolves with a total of 215 while Maggie Thoma rolled 176. Kaylee Back totaled 176, Amanda Lang added 171 and Malaya Chavez downed 161.
A-State took a 43-pin advantage in game one of Baker 5-game total pinfall with a 267-224 margin, but Vanderbilt continued their strong play and took the point by 204 pins, 1,168-964. The Commodores took game two 276-22 and followed with a 232-161 advantage in game three. Vanderbilt’s lead grew to 172 pins entering game five with a 233-143 advantage in game four and the match completed with a 203-171 margin.
Facing elimination against Wichita State, the Shockers got out to a 1-0 lead with an impressive 1,162-949 advantage in the team game. Back led the Red Wolves with a game of 215 while Aubrey Kiddle totaled 203. Thoma added 192, Alex-Anne-Auclair had 184 and Lang had 155 for A-State.
Wichita State grabbed an early advantage in the Baker 5-game total pinfall 224-181 and did not look back. The Shockers took game two 234-191 building a76-pin advantage. Wichita State closed game three with 10 consecutive strikes to lead by 135 pins and a 249-226 advantage in game four put the Red Wolves out of reach. A-State took game five, 209-202, but the Shockers took the point 1,118-1,030.
A-State ends the 2026 campaign at 80-36 and made its 18th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
