MILLSBORO, Del. – Earning the No. 14 seed for positional bracket play, the Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team finished two spots higher than their seed Sunday at the 2019 Hawk Classic Invitational in Millsboro, Delaware. The Lady Railsplitters (26-26) placed 12th among a highly-talented, 18-team tournament field featuring 15 of the nation's top 25 programs and six of the top 10 teams in the country.
 
LMU claimed a pair of top-25 Baker match victories Sunday in the first two rounds of bracket play, defeating 24th-ranked Long Island University 4-0 and taking down No. 25 Monmouth by a 4-2 count. After going 2-1 Sunday, the Lady Railsplitters complete their three-tournament November with a 5-2 record in bracket play Baker matches.
 
Competing against a stacked tournament field in one of the strongest events of the season, LMU was defeated 4-2 by ninth-seeded and 14th-ranked Tulane in the 11th-place match to wrap up the Lady Railsplitters' fall slate.
 
"The team chemistry is evolving nicely with a group of individuals who are clearly committed to one another and our unique process," spoke Director of Bowling and Head Women's Coach Joseph Slowinski. "Each bowler has embraced needed competition roles, including on and off lane responsibilities. When everyone puts the team first, we can reach our best and what we are capable of doing this season is beginning to show."
 
"Today we demonstrated that we have the potential to achieve big things this season," coach Slowinski continued. "I am looking forward to how much we can achieve in the second semester."
 
Beginning the day with a 4-0 sweep of No. 24 Long Island University in the opening round of bracket play, LMU controlled the match and won games of 178-140, 201-178, 207-158 and 188-178. Freshman Jada Bassette was on fire in the contest, striking an astounding 7-of-8 (87.5%) frames and going 2-for-2 on Baker double strikes. Senior Marisol Dodson went 9-for-13 (69.2%) on strikes and was 6-of-11 (54.5%) on Baker double strikes.
 
"It was clear from shot one that the team came to compete at its highest level," said Slowinski. "Focus on process was top notch and the energy level was off the charts. It was a great way to open the day, especially with many of our parents in the crowd."
 
Continuing their strong start to the day, the Lady Railsplitters collected a 4-2 triumph over No. 25 Monmouth by rebounding from a 186-183 opening game loss with a 162-158 game two win. After taking the third game 189-142, the match was tied up once again at 2-2 when the Hawks took game four, 180-167. However, LMU finished off the match with 211-152 and 190-160 game five and six wins.
 
Dodson had another strong performance against Monmouth in the anchor role, posting 13 strikes in 18 frames (72.2%) and going 5-for-9 (55.5%) on Baker doubles. Junior Justine Brookover had seven strikes in 12 frames (58.3%) and held an 83.3 pocket percentage.  
 
"I was very proud of our patience in the match as the pattern proved to be more difficult with over-under, requiring top-level shot-making," commented Slowinski. "The team worked hard to increase accuracy at key moments in the match and stepped up to seal the win with solid performances in games five and six."
 
In the 11th-place match, the Lady Railsplitters fell behind 3-0 to 14th-ranked Tulane after a 279-212 game one, 231-188 game two and very narrow 202-200 game three. However, LMU would not go away swiftly as the Blue and Gray claimed game four and five wins by scores of 198-168 and 193-185. A tightly-contested 182-179 game six went the way of the Green Wave to give No. 14 Tulane the match at 4-2.
 
Junior Tyra Sanchez led the way in the match with 11 strikes in 15 frames (73.3%) and seven Baker double strikes in 11 opportunities (63.6%). Meanwhile, senior Mary-Kate Kersting notched an 83.3 pocket percentage leading to seven strikes in 12 frames (58.3%) and going 5-for-5 on single pins.
 
"The final match revealed the true character of our group," Slowinski said. "The team remained poised and calm as Tulane opened with two outstanding games. As a coach, it makes you incredibly proud when a team can focus on what we do, whether if the opposition is bowling well or poorly. The ability to stay present in what we are trying to do will serve us well in March and April. We simply kept fighting throughout, giving us several opportunities to either extend or win the match."
 
Fifth-ranked and top-seeded Sam Houston State won the three-day tournament hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore by defeating sixth-ranked and No. 2 seed Arkansas State in the title match. Sixth-seeded and 20th-ranked Duquesne took home third place after upending third-seeded and 11th-ranked Sacred Heart.
 
Up Next…
The Lady Railsplitters will have nearly two months off before returning to the lanes for competition this January. LMU will begin its winter/spring championship season Friday-Sunday, Jan. 17-19 in Reading, Pennsylvania, at Sacred Heart's Northeast Classic before heading to Chesterfield, Missouri, the following weekend (Jan. 24-26) for Maryville University (Mo.)'s Saints Invitational.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter bowling throughout the 2019-20 season.