FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — After ending day one in sixth place, the Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team dropped to eighth place out of 16 teams heading into the final day at the Bearcat Hammer Open.
 
The No. 14-ranked Lady Railsplitters compiled 4,766 pins — 941, 1,051, 889, 853 and 1,032 — through five baker games for a 190.60 average on Friday before bowling five traditional matches for a total of 4,501 pins — 896, 907, 905, 887 and 906 — on Saturday.
 
The two days equal to 9,267 pins for a 185.30 average, setting No. 8-seeded LMU up with No. 7-seeded Arkansas State in the Sunday Championship Bracket. The Lady Railsplitters could win as high as fifth place or fall to as low as 10th place.
 
"Difficult day on the lanes today," LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski said. "We simply could not get a collective quality performance in any of the games.  We had one, two or three bowlers bowl well in each game while the others struggled to repeat shots.  
 
"Our team is strong mentally and supportive of one another no matter what. This is why I love this team as they bend but don't break."
 
LMU opened the day with a 925-896 loss to Valparaiso University before bouncing back and knocking off No. 5 Arkansas State, 907-802, in game No. 2. The rest of the day didn't go as planned as the Lady Railsplitters fell to Lewis University (912-905), No. 1 Vanderbilt (1,032-887) and Arkansas State (1,072-906) to finish day two.
 
Though the four out of the five traditional games didn't end in the Lady Railsplitters' favor, there were plenty of bright spots.
 
 "Chelsea Nakoka was able to come off the bench and contribute with a clean game, freshman Haley Youker bowled well in the early matches and junior Mary-Kate Kersting bowled all day," Slowinski said. "Sophomore Tyra Sanchez and Junior Marisol Dodson both had moments of brilliance. This valuable experience will help with our depth throughout the season."