DETROIT, Mich. - - Cumberland Phoenix bowling started off their season strong on the first day of the Brunswick Midwest Collegiate Championship with two top 10 finishes as a team and three individuals in the top 10.

The Cumberland Women's Bowling team had a really strong day, finishing fifth out of 42 teams with 4643 pins over four games. Milligan University won the first day with a score of 4805. Aquinas University finished in second with a 4783. Judson University finished in third with a score of 4709. Lawrence Technological University is in fourth with a score of 4671, with the Phoenix rounding out the top five. 

In the conference, the University of Pikeville is sitting in seventh with a score of 4634 and the University of the Cumberlands finished in 21st with a score of 4308.

Gracie Connelly led the way for the Phoenix with 1036 pins over five games, averaging 207 pins per game and finishing third overall. Madison Taylor is right behind Connelly with a score of 1003, for an average of 200 pins per game. Kathleen Schraer had an impressive four games with 722 pins, averaging to be 180.

Cumberland Men's Bowling finished in ninth out of 51 teams with a total of 5016 pins. Purdue University won the first day with a score of 5339, with Wisconsin-Whitewater in second with a score of 5269. Lawrence Tech finished in third with 5189 pins, and Weber International is right behind LTU with a score of 5185. Northwestern Ohio rounds out the top five with a score of 5166.

In the conference, the University of Pikeville finished in 13th with a score of 4945, Lindsey Wilson finished in 18th with a score of 4856, the University of the Cumberlands finished in 36th with a score of 4538. 

For the Phoenix, Braxton Dedmon led the way with a score of 1102 placing him in seventh and having an average of 220. Dedmon also reached the highest game of anyone in the championship with a score of 289 in game four. Jacob Ballenger finished with a score of 1032, which was just outside of the top 30 with an average of 206. Ethan Gomez was right behind Ballinger with a score of 1028 earning an average of 205. 

Cumberland looks to build off of their momentum and head into day two strong. They will be playing 16 baker games, looking to finish in the top eight to make the head-to-head rounds.