ALTOONA, Pa. - - In the first action since the winter break, the Wilmington University bowling team finished in 13^th place at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis at the Holiday Bowl Altoona over the week.

The Wildcats went into Sunday's position round in 12^th place but dropped two tough Best of Five Baker Matches before winning their final contest of the tournament over Coppin State to claim 13^th place of 17 teams.

The Wildcats jumped all over LIU Post in their opening match on Sunday, winning the first three games against the Pioneers, with a high game of 199 in the opening leg. But LIU Post came roaring back to take the next three games, forcing a seventh and deciding contest. The Wildcats came up just short against the Pioneers, falling, 161-158, to drop to a lower bracket.

The Wildcats had the same fate in their following positional match, squaring off against NCAA Division I Saint Peter's. The Wildcats went to the wire against the Peacocks, but again lost in seven matches and a double roll-off to drop them to the 13^th/14^th place position round.

The Wildcats met up with another Division I opponent in Coppin State, but this time did not allow the opponent to mount a late game comeback. The Wildcats jumped out with wins in the first three matches before finishing off the Eagles in the fifth game, 185-146, to claimed 13^th overall.

To get to Sunday's positional rounds, the Wildcats competed in five Baker Matches on Friday and five Traditional Matches on Saturday. Bailey Peters led the Wildcats in the five Traditional Matches but finishing in 29^th overall with a 173 average in five matches. She bowled a team high 234 against Duquesne while also adding a 175 game in a win against Coppin State. She finished with 865 total pin fall.

Rachel Hirst finished 38^th overall in five Traditional Matches, knocking down a total of 818 pins for a 163.60 average. She collected a day's high 190 against Kutztown. She also had a game of 185 against Duquesne. Clare Chaffer was the only other Wildcat to break the 200-game barrier, knocking down 205 pins against LIU Post in the positional round on Saturday. The Wildcats went 1-4 in Traditional Matches.

The Wildcats started off on the right foot on Friday, going 3-2 in five Baker Matches. They defeated Pitt-Bradford, New Jersey City, and LIU Post to place 11^th overall after the first day. They fell to Caldwell and Norfolk State on the opening day. They had a day's high of 891, the fourth highest in the program's short history in their win over LIU Post.

The Wildcats' scheduled begins to pick up with the month of February, as they head to Douglassville, Pennsylvania for the Bowl for the KUre next Saturday. The one day event is hosted by Kutztown University at the Jay Lanes Bowling.

AGATE:

Red Flash Invitational

Day One – Baker Matches:
W – Pitt-Bradford – 887-635
L – Caldwell – 1036-785
W – New Jersey City – 753-723
L – Norfolk State – 904-869
W – LIU Post – 891-847

3-2 Record – 4,185 Total Pins – 11^th/17 teams

Day Two – Traditional Matches:
L – Kutztown – 889-810
L – Saint Francis – 881-721
W – Coppin State – 780-724
L – Duquesne – 933-873
L – LIU Post – 848-799 (positional round)

29^th – Bailey Peters – 136-168-175-234-152 – 865 total – 173.00 average
38^th – Rachel Hirst – 190-129-157-185-157 – 818 total – 163.60 average
63^rd – Clare Chaffer – 141-XXX-153-148-205 – 647 total – 161.75 average
69^th – Malia Stout – 159-126-XXX-187-135 – 607 total – 151.75 average
84^th – Kaley Smith – 184-152-140-XXX-XXX – 476 total – 158.67 average
88^th – Sinoda Cook – XXX-146-155-119-XXX – 420 total – 140.00 average
107^th – Leah Henry – XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX-150 – 150 total – 150.00 average

1-4 Record – 3,983 Total Pins – 12^th/17 Teams

Day Three – Baker Matches (Position Rounds):
L – LIU Post – 4-3 (199-173; 195-157; 174-168; 172-192; 154-169; 163-173; 158-161)
L – St. Peter's – 5-4 (double roll-off) (138-138; 140-151; 172-167; 154-152; 148-161; 137-147; 225-141)
W – Coppin State – 4-1 (175-147; 159-148; 159-122; 159-167; 185-146)