ALTOONA, Pa. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team travels to the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis this weekend with a shot to make up for a disappointing performance at the Mid-Winter Invitational. The Lady Railsplitters stumbled to a 17^th-place showing on day one after a 54-day layoff but regrouped over the next two days to top No. 3 Arkansas State—the highest-ranked win in program history—and finish 8-5 overall. However, the team still settled for a 15^th-place finish out of 20 teams.
 
"With such a long break, sometimes you see that with teams where they come into the event and they're just not competition-ready," LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski said. "We talked and made an adjustment. We opened up Saturday against Arkansas State—the host—with our revised lane-play plan. Better execution and focus led to a victory, and we went from our lowest low to our highest high of the season in just 24 hours."
 
The Red Flash Invitational offers Lincoln Memorial a change of pace from most of its other competitions in that the Lady Railsplitters enter as one of the strongest teams in the field. However, the event consists of many teams LMU has not faced this season, including East Coast Conference contenders Franklin Pierce, Kutztown and Felician.
 
"It is the weakest field we have ever been to," Slowinski said.
 
LMU had success the last time it entered an event as one of the strongest teams in the Hornet Classic to close out its fall schedule. The Lady Railsplitters finished that event as the runner-up to then-No. 19 UAB, who was the only ranked team competing.
 
"It's a dual-purpose event," Slowinski said. "One is to see competition we haven't seen yet this season in a competitive format and to try to be strong and bowl up to our level when teams are weaker than us. That's going to be one of the thing in the early-round matches of the East Coast Conference championship. Teams are going to have to beat teams they're better than, and they're going to have to perform on the day that it matters most."
 
Freshman Christine Hansen, one of the team's top performers, has been battling the flu and will not travel with the team. However, there are options abound on the roster to make up for the loss.
 
"We need players to step up to take that high production that we normally rely on," Slowinski said.
 
Sophomore Marisol Dodson was named as the ECC Bowler of the Week for her performance at the Mid-Winter Invitational, while freshman Tyra Sanchez was an honor roll selection. Fellow freshman Justine Brookover has also earned two Bowler of the Week plaudits. A Lady Railsplitter has earned either the ECC Bowler or Rookie of the Week recognition after each of the team's five events.
 
"I expect us to do well," Slowinski said. "Several players have been training well this week."
 
The Red Flash Invitational commences on Friday while play comes to a close on Sunday.