Junior Megan Gillson of Minooka Community High School knocked down 1,347 pins

INDIANAPOLIS - Junior Megan Gillson of Minooka Community High School knocked down 1,347 pins to clinch second place and earn All-Tournament honors for the Saint Xavier University women's bowling team at the Columbia 300 Western Shootout at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana this weekend. This marks Gillson's first all-tournament honor in her career with the Cougars.

Gillson's impressive performance shattered program records for the most pins and highest average in single-tournament history, with a pin total of 1,347 and an average of 224.5 over six games. Overall, Saint Xavier secured third place out of 27 teams with a total of 9,037 pins. They held second place after the individual portion on Saturday with 6,001 pins. Midway University (Ky.) emerged victorious, capturing the tournament title with 9,328 pins.

The Baker Games lineup for SXU featured five bowlers: freshman Lida Burgos (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) leading the charge as leadoff, followed by senior Heidi Johnson (Elwood, Ill./Joliet Central), senior Olivia Daujatas (New Lenox Ill./Lincoln-Way West), junior Monica Darrow (Elgin, Ill./South Elgin), and Gillson anchoring the team.

The Cougars displayed exceptional consistency throughout the Baker Games, averaging 189.8 pins over 16 games on Sunday. They surpassed the 200-pin mark in seven games, reaching a high of 224 pins in game seven. Saint Xavier also recorded impressive scores of 211 pins in game one, 203 in game two, 216 in games five and six, 202 in game eight, and 213 in game 15.

On Saturday, Gillson narrowly missed cracking the Top 10 in single-tournament history for Saint Xavier, falling one pin shy of the mark with a high of 254 pins. She also displayed remarkable consistency, hitting 231 pins in game two, 229 in game one, 220 in game three, 212 in game six, and 201 in game four.

Daujatas also delivered an impressive performance, finishing 16th overall with 1,200 pins in six games. She maintained an average of 200.0 pins, with a high of 224 pins in game four, along with 213 pins in game six.

Darrow followed closely behind, placing 20th with 1,177 pins in six games and an average of 196.2. She recorded a high of 236 pins in game five, with 233 pins in game one and 205 in game six.

Burgos added to the team's success, securing 25th place with 1,151 pins. She averaged 191.8 pins over six games, with a high of 237 in game five. Burgos also hit 212 pins in game four and 205 in game two.

Johnson contributed with 1,126 pins, taking 31st overall in six games for an average of 187.7. She knocked down a high of 221 pins in game one and hit 203 pins in game five.

Saint Xavier looks forward to continuing their momentum as they return to action on Saturday, November 11, competing in the two-day Leatherneck Classic at Highland Park Bowl in Moline, Illinois.