GLEN ALLEN, Va. - - Dropping the final best of seven Baker Match on the 10^th frame, the Wilmington University women's bowling team wrapped up the Virginia Union Invitational in 12^th place over the weekend, but went 7-2 in head-to-head matches with an average game score of 162.5.

On Sunday in the bracket style Baker Matches, the Wildcats dropped their first round match to Morgan State, 4-1, before battling back to defeat Mount Aloysius, 4-1, to move into the 11/12^th place position round. Trailing 2-1 in the match with Morgan State, the Wildcats evened the match with a 178-159 fourth game. Again trailing 3-2, the Wildcats forced a seventh and final match by winning, 183-157. But the Bears stormed back to take the match, winning with their final bowls in the 10^th frame to take the match, 4-3, and earn 11^th place.

On Saturday, the Wildcats went 4-0 in traditional matches, defeating Coppin State, Norfolk State, Bowie State, and Fayetteville State. They had their best match of the afternoon in their win over Norfolk State, knocking down 835 pins to win by 66 pins. They also defeated Fayetteville State with 834 pins in their final match of the day, winning by another 66 pins.

Sophomore Bailey Peters led the Wildcats individually, placing 21^st overall out of 38 bowlers. In five traditional matches, she finished with an 895 total pin fall, averaging a score of 179 per game. Her 895 total pin fall ranks seventh overall in the Wilmington record books. She had a day's best 209 against Norfolk State while also bowling a 195 in the nightcap against Fayetteville State.

Clare Chaffer finished 60^th overall while bowling in four matches, collecting a 663 total pin fall for a 165.75 average. She had a day's best 191 against Norfolk State as well. Rachel Hirst was right behind Chaffer in 62^nd place, also bowling in four matches on the afternoon. She tallied a day's high 190 in the team's bye round.

Fairleigh Dickinson won the Virginia Union Tournament by defeating St. Francis (Pa.), 4-1, in the championship match on Sunday. St. Francis came into the day as the No. 1 seed, finishing with the most downed pins, 9,239, through Friday and Saturday.

Morgan State's Kiersten Bateman earned MVP honors for the tournament, averaging a 198.60 score in five matches, totaling a 993 total pin fall.

The Wildcats are off until the end of the month, as they host the Wildcats DII/DIII Invitational starting on Friday, November 30. The three-day tournament will take place at Bowlerama in New Castle, Delaware.