LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team sits in sixth after day one and 34 pins behind No. 16 Central Missouri, who is in fifth, at the Big Red Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. 
 
The No. 15 Lady Railsplitters averaged 192.5 in Friday's 20 baker games, shooting five-game baker blocks of 921, 918, 1013 and 1004.  LMU had eight of the 20 baker games over 200 (202, 223, 226, 226, 211, 211, 236, 223).
 
"It was great to get back into competition mode," LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski said. "We started slow with some inconsistent execution, but the team responded well when I challenged them to step up."
 
Bowling most of the day at anchor, sophomore Christine Hansen had 36 strikes and ended the day with a 56-percent baker double-strike percentage and a 91-percent filled-frame rate.  Sophomore Justine Brookover had 22 strikes and contributed with 87.5 percent fill-the-frame percentage.  Junior Mary-Kate Kersting added 19 strikes, a 50-percent baker double-strike percentage and an 82-percent fill-the-frame percentage.  Junior Marisol Dodson added 20 strikes.
 
"We take great pride in improving every day and this weekend is no exception to our expectation," Slowinski said. "Our scoring pace suffered today due to too many splits and too many missed spares.  Our lane play plan is good.  If we can clean-up some inconsistent shot-making, we are very optimistic for day two success."
 
Starting at 9:25 EST Saturday, the Lady Railsplitters will bowl five traditional games. LMU trails No. 13 Wisconsin Whitewater by 210 pins and will need some big performances in day two to make its goal of getting into the top four, with a have a chance to bowl for a title Sunday, possible.