Nebraska successfully defended its title and captured its second straight NCAA women's bowling national championship with a victory over Central Missouri State April 16.

The Cornhuskers defeated the Jennies, four games to two in Baker format, to win the second annual National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship at Wekiva Lanes in Orlando, Florida.

In a title match that featured the same two teams as in last year's inaugural NCAA championship, Nebraska overtook Central Missouri State behind sophomore Amanda Burgoyne, who was named most outstanding player for the tournament. Burgoyne bowled a career-high average of 251 through the April 14 qualifying rounds. Nebraska freshman Lindsay Baker also hit a career-high average of 234 during the tournament.

The Cornhuskers jumped out to an early lead, winning the first game of the best-of-seven series, 220-210. The Jennies managed to pull even and then edge in front of Nebraska by taking the next two games, 266-247 and 192-148. The Cornhuskers tied the championship series with a 205-190 victory in the fourth game and went on to defeat the Jennies twice more, 190-172 and 235-184, to secure the crown.

"This win feels great," said Nebraska head coach Bill Straub. "Psychologically, we knew we could do it, and we were fortunate enough through the entire tournament to exceed our expectations."

Nebraska dominated the entire tournament, downing Fayetteville State, 4-0, and Sacred Heart, 4-1, in the first two rounds, respectively. The Cornhuskers collected their closest victory, 4-3-1, against Fairleigh Dickinson in the third round, to advance to the championship match.

Central Missouri State battled its way through the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament after a 4-3 first-round loss to New Jersey City. The Jennies defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore and Sacred Heart in the second and third rounds. Central Missouri State also survived a tough seven-game match with Bethune-Cookman, which was making its first appearance in the eight-team championship, in the fourth round before blanking Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-0, to earn an appearance in the title series.

Nebraska finished the year with a 69-8 record. Central Missouri State closed the season with an 89-21 mark.

Nebraska's Baker joined Burgoyne on the all-tournament team. Central Missouri State's Tina Peak, Fairleigh Dickinson's Elysia Current and Bethune-Cookman's Sarah Circle also were selected.

Championship results

Round 1

Nebraska (Lindsay Baker, Amanda Burgoyne, Jamie Martin, Adrienne Miller, Shannon Pluhowsky) def. Fayetteville St. (Melissa Davis, Shanika Horne, Sondra Hulsether, Jennifer Montgomery, Alicia Pelfrey), 4-0 (213-117, 207-154, 256-190, 204-138); Sacred Heart (Carolyn Rich, Nicole Peloquin, Erin Gore, Chrissy Onderdonk, Alexandra Soldano, Nicole Ocasio) def. Bethune-Cookman (Ta'Shieka Green, Angela Murrell, Sarah Circle, Tanya Henry, Erica Crawford), 4-1 (189-212, 241-211, 192-150, 204-203, 211-181); New Jersey City (Jennifer Viens, Christine Zsilavetz, Michele Kielawa, Kathleen Weissman, Vicki Spratford) def. Central Mo. St. (Bryanna Caldwell, Jiovanna Bruce, Alecia Hefter, Tina Peak, Kim Wirth), 4-3 (221-160, 205-228, 192-161, 237-157, 160-225, 179-212, 212-195); Fairleigh Dickinson (Amy Bohleber, Elysia Current, Jocelyn Davis, Lisa Friscioni, Kristina Szalay) def. Md.-East. Shore (Erin Fagan, MaryEtta Lewis, Sandra Maresca, Megan Raymond, Jessica Worsley), 4-1 (224-193, 195-190, 209-220, 220-213, 212-189).

Round 2

Nebraska def. Sacred Heart, 4-1 (236-202, 199-257, 209-177, 263-166, 209-201); Fairleigh Dickinson def. 6. New Jersey City, 4-0 (225-195, 196-188, 237-202, 217-188); Central Mo. St. def. Md.-East. Shore, 4-2 (211-168, 194-257, 247-198, 203-225, 238-195, 227-195); Bethune-Cookman def. Fayetteville St., 4-0 (201-145, 174-138, 180-172, 202-142).

Round 3

Nebraska def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3-1 (200-216, 223-223, 191-184, 227-224, 210-235, 248-206, 194-220, 247-194); Bethune-Cookman def. New Jersey City, 4-3 (204-172, 183-184, 190-173, 169-223, 173-195, 212-179, 187-189); Central Mo. St. def. Sacred Heart, 4-1 (235-212, 234-196, 169-232, 223-190, 216-178).

Round 4

Central Mo. St. def. Bethune-Cookman, 4-3 (200-161, 197-199, 214-211, 267-161, 176-199, 185-191, 193-225).

Round 5

Central Mo. St. def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-0 (183-173, 212-176, 224-206, 235-210).

Round 6

Nebraska def. Central Mo. St., 4-2 (220-210, 247-266, 148-192, 205-190, 190-172, 235-184).