BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Pikeville women's bowling team was the runner-up in last weekend's Mid-South Conference tournament at Southern Lanes.
 
The Bears advanced to the championship round with a Saturday morning win over Shawnee State before falling in the finals to Cumberland (Tenn.) University.
 
UPike, the top seed entering the tournament, had won the last three tournament championships and has taken eight of the 14 titles since the league instituted bowling as a championship sport.
 
The Bears opened the tournament on Thursday with a 2-0 win over ninth-seeded Campbellsville. They advanced to play No. 4 Cumberlands in the second round, picking up another 2-0 win.
 
That put them in a matchup with No. 2 Cumberland, with the Phoenix advancing to the championship round with a 2-0 win.
 
On Saturday, UPike faced sixth-seeded Shawnee State University in an elimination match with a trip to the championship round at stake. In a contest featuring the best-of-seven Baker format, UPike won 4-0 by scores of 179-170, 193-161, 196-162 and 186-154.
 
That moved them into the championship against Cumberland, where the Phoenix picked up a 2-0 win to claim the school's first championship in women's bowling.
 
UPike will be back in action this weekend, returning to regular-season play in the Hoosier Classic in Indianapolis.