Port Jefferson, N.Y. - The No. 23 Lady Railsplitters defeated Franklin Pierce 4-1 in a winner-take-all best-of-seven Baker match to claim the 2018 East Coast Conference Women's Bowling Championship and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Women's Bowling Championship on Sunday afternoon at Port Jeff Bowl.
After falling just short of an ECC title in its inaugural 2016-17 season, Lincoln Memorial took care of some unfinished business and rolled through the competition to claim the first ECC championship trophy in the program's brief history. The Lady Railsplitters finished a nearly spotless 9-1 in the tournament to move to 71-50 on the season while also improving to an astounding 22-5 over its past 27 matches.
"Our women are so strong and just keep coming with that never give-up spirit," said LMU Director of Bowling and Head Women's Bowling Coach Joseph Slowinski. "I am beaming with great pride now and am so happy for them."
The Lady Railsplitters had to face an inspired Franklin Pierce squad – competing in its final season of women's bowling after it was announced the program would be discontinued following the conclusion of this season – three times to win the title.
Lincoln Memorial earned its spot in the title match with a gritty 4-2 win over the Ravens in the first match of the day to move to 8-0 in the ECC Championship. The two teams traded the first four games with Lincoln Memorial winning games one and three and the Ravens keeping pace with wins in games two and four. However, the Lady Railsplitters rolled their two highest scores of the match in games five and six to advance to the championship with 191-177 and 221-188 triumphs.
"To be a part of this is truly a dream come true. Nobody knows how hard we work on and off the lanes," said freshman Justine Brookover. "I wouldn't want to have these moments with anyone else. I am beyond proud of every single one of these girls."
After falling in relatively decisive fashion, Franklin Pierce caught fire and eliminated defending East Coast Conference champions Adelphi 4-0 to set the stage for the title match and earn a chance at redemption against the Lady Railsplitters.
Franklin Pierce carried the momentum from its win over Adelphi into the championship series. The Lady Railsplitters won game one but the Ravens proceeded to win the next three. After drawing even in game two, Franklin Pierce ended game three with five straight strikes to bowl a match-high 242. The Ravens then survived a 200-199 nail-biter in game four to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
Tyra Sanchez struck out in the 10th frame to clinch a 195-170 win for the Lady Railsplitters to extend the match in game five, but Franklin Pierce wrapped up the 4-2 win in game six to force a winner-take-all best-of-seven finale.
"After dropping the first match against Franklin Pierce, I knew for sure that we were going to bring it home when we went up 2-0," said freshman Christine Hansen. "My heart stopped for a second, and then I realized that we had actually won the title! We accomplished the goal we've had since day one of the season."
The Lady Railsplitters again took the early lead in the finale, as Franklin Pierce came up empty in four frames to open the door for Lincoln Memorial to pull out a 156-147 win. Lincoln Memorial was then able to do what it couldn't in the first match by taking a 2-0 lead. The Ravens struck out in the 10th but three straight strikes from Brookover, Marisol Dodson, and Sanchez powered LMU to a 202-191 triumph.
"Never in my life have I wanted something so bad," said Sanchez. "We each work so hard every day and made so many sacrifices to be where we are now. I'm proud to be on this team with such amazing girls who have become family to me."
In a dramatic third game, back-to-back strikes from Mary-Kate Kersting and Brookover put the Lady Railsplitters in pole position late. Victory seemed all but certain after Franklin Pierce left the 10th frame open, however, Lincoln Memorial also came up empty in the 10th to fall 192-187 as the Ravens trimmed the deficit to 2-1.
After letting game three slip away, the Lady Railsplitters responded with a vengeance in game four, stringing together five consecutive strikes to take the early edge. Despite a late run by the Ravens, Brookover led off the 10th with a strike to clinch the 210-195 win to put LMU one win away from the ECC title.
Lincoln Memorial and Franklin Pierce traded blows early in the fifth game until an untimely open frame in the eighth gave the Lady Railsplitters an opportunity to capitalize. And capitalize they did, as Brookover picked up a clutch spare in the 10th and followed it up with a strike to clinch the ECC title with a 182-171 victory.
"This feeling is one I cannot believe," said sophomore Dodson, who was tabbed as the ECC Championship Most Outstanding Player. "We have worked so hard to get to where we are and it is just the beginning. This team is a family and no matter what we will do our best always."
After going 42-79 last season with a runner-up finish in the ECC Championship, the Lady Railsplitters made a 29-win improvement and are bringing the ECC title back to Harrogate. Lincoln Memorial will learn its opponent for the NCAA Championship on Tuesday during a live selection show.
"Today we fought to the end," said Kersting. "We didn't let anyone get us down and we proved what hard work can accomplish. This team has grown so much because we worked hard to be the best we can be."
The 2018 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship begins on April 12 in St. Louis, Mo.
Release provided by the Lincoln Memorial Sports Information Department.
