CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — There were a lot of positives floating in the air when the Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team left the Brunswick Zone Chesterfield Lanes Friday afternoon.
 
The No.15-ranked Lady Railsplitters broke a program-high baker game with a match five score of 279 en route to a 1066-940 victory over No. 12 Wisconsin Whitewater, while moving themselves up the day one Saints Invite standings in Chesterfield, Mo.
 
LMU started the day in 12th place following an 823-947 loss to Lewis University in match one but moved up after averaging 197.90 the next four matches to sit in sixth place heading into day two. The Lady Railsplitters are 21 pins behind fifth place No. 24-ranked Central Missouri while trailing No. 12 Wisconsin Whitewater, who sits in fourth place, by 70 pins.
 
"I was very frustrated with our lack of focus in the opening match today," LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski said.  "We discussed the importance of sustained focus after the poor opening match and the bowlers responded well."
 
In match No. 2, LMU faced the host No. 22 Maryville University and while the Lady Railsplitters had a 29-pin lead, they squandered it in a 951-978 loss. LMU then turned the midway point with a 1,006-880 win over Valparaiso before struggling in a 935-998 loss to No. 24 Central Missouri in match No. 4.
 
The Lady Railsplitters ended the day on the right foot, bouncing No. 12-ranked Wisconsin Whitewater with the program-high 279 baker game in part to the impressive outing from sophomore Christine Hansen.
 
The sophomore bowled one of her finest performances while at LMU behind 50 strikes on 80 shots (62.5 percent) and 29 of 46 baker doubles (63 percent). The Danish International filled 89 percent of her frames, was 93 percent on single pins (14 of 15) and hit the pocket 83 percent (67 of 80).
 
"It was awesome to see Christine bowl up to the level I believe she is capable of achieving on a regular basis," Slowinski said.
 
LMU will face North Central College, No. 2 Nebraska, Kentucky Wesleyan, No. 1 McKendree and Lincoln University on Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m.
 
"I am proud of our team's resiliency and willingness to keep fighting through adversity," Slowinski said.  "I want us to work hard to be better each day and this starts with getting out of the gate tomorrow morning with excellent shot-making in our opening match."