MACOMB, Ill.— Western Illinois women's bowling concluded competition at the 2026 Big Red Invitational in Nebraska, earning an 11th-place finish in a field featuring numerous highly ranked programs. The Leathernecks finished the event with a 1–12 overall record across Baker, traditional, and bracket play, totaling 11,182 pins over 64 games for a tournament average of 174.7.

The Leathernecks showed flashes of high-scoring potential throughout the weekend, highlighted by a 989 total in their final bracket match against Quincy University. In traditional match play, the team's best performance came in Match 8, where they posted a 929 against Quincy. WIU also opened the tournament with a competitive 894 Baker set against Youngstown State.

Individually, Jaydyn Hunting led Western Illinois, finishing 32nd overall with a six-game total of 1,110 and a 185.0 average. Her performance was bolstered by high games of 225 and 222. Teammates Angela Steinke (33rd overall, 180.33 average) and Maleena Moreno (34th overall, 176.17 average) also provided consistent scoring to the Leatherneck lineup during traditional play.

Western Illinois wrapped up the weekend in the championship bracket, where they secured their 11th-place standing with a 989–810 victory over Quincy University in the second round. While the tournament presented challenges, it provided the program with valuable experience against elite competition.

The Leathernecks will wrap up their season March 6-8 at the Vanderbilt Music City Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. 

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