ROWLETT, Texas – The second-seed Arkansas State Red Wolves fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven portion of the Championship Mega Match to take a 2-1 overall win over the fifth-seed Sam Houston Bearkats to win the 2023 Southland Bowling League Championship at the Rowlett Bowl-A-Rama.
The Red Wolves claim their third SBL title after winning in 2016 and 2018 and will take the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The rest of the field will be announced at 3 p.m. Wednesday on NCAA.com.
Arkansas State took the opening point in traditional play by a 1087-940 score, thanks in large part to a 279 from tournament Most Valuable Bowler Maggie Thoma. She had 11 strikes and a spare in her game.
In baker play, the Red Wolves held a 27-pin lead entering the fifth game, before the Bearkats scored 234 in the final game and ASU scored 153. Sam Houston’s 990-936 baker victory forced the best-of-seven.
Sam Houston raced out to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven before the Red Wolves howled back. After tying the match up with 205-191 and 197-181 wins, Arkansas State wrapped up the mega match with a 225-180 victory and celebrated their league title.
The Bearkats had advanced to the championship match after a 2-1 morning win over Louisiana Tech. Tech won the traditional point 987-973, with Sam Houston winning the baker point 976-962. Sam Houston won the best-of-seven match, four games to one to advance to the final.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MOST VALUABLE BOWLER: Maggie Thoma, Arkansas State
Faith Welch, Arkansas State
Elise Chambers, Sam Houston
Denise Blankenzee, Sam Houston
Megan Grams, Youngstown State
Lindsay Manning, Louisiana Tech
| Friday, March 24 |
| Matchup |
Result |
| 1 |
No. 1 Vanderbilt vs. No. 8 Valparaiso |
Vandy 2 (1046-1080), Valpo 0 (834-929) |
| 2 |
No. 4 Youngstown State vs. No. 5 Sam Houston |
SHSU 2 (1085-1083), YSU 0 (1045-1060) |
| 3 |
No. 3 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 6 Louisiana Tech |
SFA 2 (971-1032), LaTech 0 (938-967) |
| 4 |
No. 2 Arkansas State vs. No. 7 Tulane |
ASU 2 (1009-931), Tulane 0 (906-921) |
| 5 |
No. 8 Valparaiso vs. No. 4 Youngstown State
Elimination Match |
YSU 2 (926-874-4), Valpo 1 (791-886-1) |
| 6 |
No. 6 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 7 Tulane
Elimination Match |
LaTech 2 (1002-967), Tulane 0 (900-810) |
| 7 |
No. 1 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Sam Houston |
SHSU 2 (1010-926-4), Vandy 1 (978-939-3) |
| 8 |
No. 3 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 2 Arkansas State |
ASU 2 (1007-854-4), SFA 1 (985-1019-2) |
| Saturday, March 25 |
| Matchup |
Result |
| 9 |
No. 4 Youngstown State vs. No. 1 Vanderbilt
Elimination Match |
YSU 2 (982-964-4), Vandy 1 (1050-935-3) |
| 10 |
No. 6 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 3 Stephen F. Austin
Elimination Match |
LaTech 2 (1065-958), SFA 0 (894-895) |
| 11 |
No. 5 Sam Houston vs. No. 2 Arkansas State |
ASU 2 (970-1027-4), SHSU 1 (940-1044-3) |
| 12 |
Match 9 winner vs. Match 10 winner
Elimination Match |
LaTech 2 (957-928), YSU 0 (898-838) |
| Sunday, March 26 |
| Matchup |
Result |
| 13 |
No. 6 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 5 Sam Houston
Elimination Match |
SHSU 2 (973-976-4), LaTech 1 (987-962-1) |
| 14 |
No. 2 Arkansas State vs. Match 13 winner
Championship Match |
ASU 2 (1087-936-4), SHSU 1 (940-990-3) |