MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team showcased another solid performance Saturday.
 
In the No. 14-ranked Lady Railsplitters' five traditional games, they finished 3-2 with huge victories over No. 5 Arkansas State (968-928) and No. 1 Vanderbilt (998-952) to wrap up the second day.
 
LMU's other win came against Valparaiso (935-924), while the Lady Railsplitters fell to Youngstown State (1,052-1,028) and No. 9 Fairleigh Dickinson (1,040-986) to move to 8-2 through two days. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters' 4,915 pins Saturday, combined with 4,813 on Friday, put them at 9,728 total pins and in ninth place out of 18 teams heading into the best-of-7 match Sunday Championship.
 
LMU will face No. 10 LIU Brooklyn in the first round, starting at 9:30 a.m Sunday.
 
 "I am so proud of this group of young women," LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski said. "Today was a total team effort with lots of rotations and substitutions. What an amazing day!  It is our first win over a No. 1-ranked opponent!  To get two top-5 wins in-a-row will always be a special moment for our team."
 
The Lady Railspliters were carried by junior Mary-Kate Kersting, who finished 22nd out of 129 bowlers with a 207 average through five games. Marisol Dodson was 41st with a 192.60 average.
 
"MK has evolved so much as a bowler in her time at LMU," Slowinski said. "It is exciting to see her become a better and better performer on the lanes. She has become an important contributor in bowling.  And, her contributions go far beyond the lanes as she is the energy center of our team. Everyone on the team gets so pumped-up when she bowls well."
 
"This was an important step forward in consistency and higher level bowling."