RICHTON PARK, Ill. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team was in competition Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Crusader Classic held at Lakewood Bowl.
 
Over the weekend, LMU defeated No. 23 nationally-ranked Valparaiso twice, ending the tournament with a 3-8 record and a ninth-place overall finish. The win over Valparaiso represents the Lady Railsplitters' seventh victory over a top-25 team in 2017. LMU has defeated a top-25 team in each of its four tournaments bowled in 2017 with seven wins over nationally-ranked squads this year including victories against No. 7 and defending national champion Stephen F Austin, No. 9 Monmouth, No. 13 Wisconsin-Whitewater, No. 20 Norfolk State and Valparaiso (three times).
 
Over the first two days, LMU lost to No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Arkansas State, No. 11 Central Missouri, No. 13 Tulane, No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater, No. 24 Youngtown St, Maryville and Elmhurst College. LMU defeated Aurora in addition to Valparaiso.
 
Leading the way for the Railsplitters was Marisol Dodson (Jacksonville, Fla.), who averaged 197.4 in individual team games, finishing 17th overall out of bowlers bowling at least five games in the event. Dodson struck 68 times over the weekend, a rate of 47.89 percent. 
 
On Saturday, she contributed with a 247 to lead the way in LMU's dominant 1033-855 win over Valparaiso. On Sunday, she struck nine of 11 times in the 10th frame after being moved to anchor for games four through seven in the 4-3 win over Valpo. Overall, in the Baker best-of-7 match against Valparaiso, Dodson struck an amazing 14 times in 17 frames, an 82 percent strike rate in this Baker match.
 
"Marisol is an outstanding bowler and we have been waiting for her to have a break-out performance," said Director of Bowling Joe Slowinski. "To strike eighty-two percent of the time in a Baker match is simply incredible."
 
On Friday, to end the day, LMU lost a close match to Wisconsin-Whitewater 959-952, shooting the program's highest Baker game of 264 in the fifth and final game, forcing the Warhawks to mark in the 10th frame of game five to win the match.
 
"I am very proud of how the team has evolved over the course of the season," said Slowinski. "On Saturday afternoon, I asked each of our bowlers to reflect on what she needs to do better in order to improve our consistency and everyone responded with outstanding performances on Sunday."
 
On Sunday, LMU shot 957 in the sixth team game and defeated Valpo 4-3 in best-of-seven Baker match play.
 
The Lady Railsplitters will be back in action in Lincoln Nebraska on March 2-4 at the Big Red Invitational, hosted by the University of Nebraska.