LAS VEGAS - Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, Calif., locked up the final spot in the semifinals at the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.

Bellinder knocked off top seed Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, 279-213, as she joined Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, in the semifinals earlier today.

Bellinder struck on her first four shots before leaving a 4 pin. She continued to strike the rest of the match, finishing with 11 strikes in 12 attempts.

"I knew I had a good shot on both lanes even though I was using a different ball on each lane," Bellinder said. "The shot in the fifth frame I thought I threw it pretty good off my hand. It went high, so I adjusted after that and kept going."

To reach the quarterfinals, Bellinder beat Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 212-202.

The championship round, scheduled to air Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN, will feature the four semifinalists battling in head-to-head matches until the champion is determined. If a player shoots 300 in the championship round, she will earn a $100,000 bonus.

2009 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.

SHOW 4

(9) Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., def. (8) Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 212-202

Bellinder def. (1) Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 279-213