Harrogate, TN- The Lincoln Memorial University Women's Bowling team competed in the 2024 Mount Shootout this past weekend. The Lady Rasilplitters finished 4th of 12 teams, and competed against highly ranked teams.
On the first day, the team went 4-1. The team matched up against Mercyhurst University (28th) in the first match. Haley Powell bowled first and knocked a total of 269 points, beating her opponent by 69 pins. Sarah Rubi clinched a victory against her opponent in the second game by 8 pins. The sophomore, Rhiannon Davis celebrated a close win in the third game (230-222). Reilly Jones and Kayleigh McMullen fell short of victory in the fourth and fifth game, but the Railsplitters won by 3 pins (1092-1089).
The Lady Railsplitters swept their next opponent, New Jersey City (68th) by a difference of 139 pins. The Railsplitters total pinfall was 921 versus New Jersey City's 782. The team went on to outbowl their next competitors Dominican (1011- 689). The Railsplitters bowled in another tight matchup against Bryant (55th) and came out with their fourth victory of the day by just a mere 6 pins. The women's team took their only loss of the day in the fifth match against Mount Saint Marys (1012-1185). Railsplitters Haley Powell and Kayleigh McMullen, Rhiannon Davis, and Reilly Jones bowled in all five matches.
On the second day, they competed in the 5-person team game. The Lady Railsplitters went 4-1 again on day 2. In game one, the team played against a highly competitive Niagra University team (29th). Number 4, Haley Powell bowled the highest roll of the day with 278 pins. Sarah Rubi bowled a total 214 pins. Rhiannon Davis knocked down a total of 156 pins. Reilly Jones bowled 176, and Kayleigh McMullen ended with 204. The Railsplitters won with 1037 total pinfall. In game two, the Railsplitters beat another ranked team Saint Francis University (1130-963). In the third team game, the Railsplitters fell to the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson University. However, the team was able to turn things around in the fourth and fifth matches, beating Kutztown University (26th) and Coppin State (64th).
Haley Powell had the highest pinfall for the Railsplitters on the second day with a striking total of 1118 pins. This performance led her to making the All-Tournament team. Behind her was Kayleigh McMullen whose total pinfall adds up to 1050. After day two, the team placed 6th in the tournament standings going into day 3.
The Railsplitters were able to climb their way up to 4th place on Sunday in the championship bracket. They bowled against 5th seed Farleigh Dickinson University in their first matchup. The game went to 8 rounds and a roll off, yet the Railsplitters were able to secure victory and move on to play Saint Francis University. The Lincoln Memorial Team was able to sweep Saint Francis swiftly (4-0), allowing them to play the originally first seed team, North Carolina A&T State University. The Lady Railsplitters fell to the Aggies in a close matchup (4-1), placing them 4th overall.
The Railsplitters ended with a 10-3 record on the weekend and beat multiple ranked teams. The Lady Railsplitters will have an off weekend and are set to be on the road on February 23rd at the Stallings Invitational. The Invitational is hosted by North Carolina A&T State University and will end on February 25th. The ladies look to prepare for the USBC Sectionals in March.
