HARAHAN, La. – Wichita State dropped their first match of the Conference USA Championship and then stormed back through the contender's bracket with seven straight wins to capture the program's first conference title on Sunday afternoon at Colonial Lanes.
 
With the win, Wichita State clinches the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The selection show will take place on Wednesday, March 26 at 3:00 pm CT.
 
The Shockers (84-36) capped off their incredible run with consecutive thrilling victories over #1-seed and defending NCAA champion Jacksonville State, besting the Gamecocks 4-3 in the best-of-seven tiebreaker to force an if-necessary championship match then repeating the feat in another best-of-seven showdown.
 
Wichita State trailed 3-2 in both of the best-of-seven Baker matches before rallying. In the Mega Match, WSU took the traditional point, 1,018-1,004, but dropped the Baker match, 1,105-1,034, then faced elimination entering the sixth game with scores of:
 
223-170 Jacksonville State
188-169 Wichita State
212-162 Jacksonville State
186-172 Wichita State
200-188 Jacksonville State
 
The Shockers claimed a 216-180 win in the sixth to force a decisive game seven, which came down to the 10^th frame with the outcome in doubt. WSU anchor Aleesha Oden delivered consecutive strikes when any other result would have won the championship for Jacksonville State, powering WSU to a 203-194 victory and 4-3 match win.

It simply does not get more clutch than this. pic.twitter.com/enzS8KUX2E

— Wichita State Women's Bowling (@GoShockersBOWL) March 23, 2025

 That outcome sent the two teams into another Baker best-of-seven match, and again the Shockers had to play with their backs against the wall. Jacksonville State took a 3-2 edge with scores of:
 
203-194 Wichita State
233-215 Jacksonville State
193-177 Jacksonville State
206-204 Wichita State
223-206 Jacksonville State
 
Wichita State scratched out a 212-200 game six win, extending the championship to a final game seven. The Gamecocks had their own chance to win the title in the 10^th frame, but anchor Annalise OBryant could only produce eight pins on her second shot as WSU hung on, 218-215.
 
The Shockers had to fight all the back through the contender's bracket after dropping their first match of the tournament against Arkansas State, also in the seventh game of the best-of-seven tiebreaker. From there, Wichita State bested #10-seed Valparaiso 2-0, #9 Tulane 2-1, #3 Vanderbilt 2-1, #5 Arkansas State 2-0 and #7 Sam Houston to reach the championship match on Sunday.
 
Wichita State won the traditional match point in seven of their eight matches, falling only to Vanderbilt. The Shockers top score from the tournament came in the rematch against Arkansas State, when WSU blew out the Red Wolves in the Baker match, 1,103-959 to secure the sweep.
 
Oden was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Bowler, while Mary Orf and Sara Duque Jiménez joined her on the All-Tournament Team.