JACKSON, Mich. – For the first time in program history, the Spring Arbor University women's bowling team won the Crossroads League Tournament championship, claiming the title at JAX 60 on Thursday.
 
The championship tournament featured all seven Crossroads League teams bowling 12 Baker games with the top four squads moving on to a bracket-style, best-of-three match play to determine the winner.
 
The SAU women were outstanding in the Baker games, posting the No. 1 qualifying score with 2178 total pins. Bethel University earned the No. 2-seed and Marian University and Mount Vernon Nazarene University followed in third and fourth.
 
Spring Arbor opened match play against MVNU. The two teams tied in game one, but the Cougars rolled in games two and three, defeating MVNU 197-137 and 163-118 to punch their ticket to the next round.
 
In the finals, SAU faced off against Marian, who defeated Bethel 2-0 in its first round matchup. The Cougars dominated the first game, winning 223-159, but the Knights battled back and edged out a 191-190 victory in game two to force a winner-take-all third game. The Cougars were up to the task, however, and came away with a commanding 268-194 win to capture their first-ever Crossroads League Tournament title.
 
The win added to an already incredible campaign for Spring Arbor. The Cougars, led by coaches Gerry Lobdell and Rich Bradley, have finished first in 10 events this year and took home their third consecutive Crossroads League regular season crown.
 
In addition to the Spring Arbor women's team winning, the SAU men's team also finished first to sweep this year's Crossroads League Tournament titles.
 
Up next, Spring Arbor heads to Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan for the USBC Intercollegiate Singles and Team Sectionals on Mar. 8-10.