Pittsburgh, Pa. – Mercyhurst Women's Bowling finishes their historic season as they fall to Nebraska in the first match of the day in the NCAA Women's Bowling National Tournament by a score of 2-0 and come up short against Stephen F. Austin in the second, 2-1.

How It Happened

After winning the ECC Championship two weeks ago, the Lakers traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. to compete in their first NCAA Tournament in program's history. They started their busy day with a tough matchup against fourth-ranked Nebraska. Despite great effort from the squad led by Haley Youker's impressive 256 knocked pins, the Cornhuskers defeated Mercyhurst in the traditional match by a score of 1049-914 and took a 1-0 lead. The Lakers tried to come back in the five-game baker match but failed to do so, eventually losing 1013-960 and falling to the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

Mercyhurst returned to the bowling alley to take on Stephen F. Austin in the second match of the day. The Lakers started strong and were once again led into battle by Youker as she totaled a game score of 235, eventually defeating the Ladyjacks, 933-835. Stephen F. Austin came back in the baker match, as they defeated Mercyhurst by a score of 1121-948, tying the match, 1-1.

Everything came down to the best-of-seven baker match, as both teams fought hard to make it to the next round of the tournament and avoid elimination. Stephen F. Austin started strong as they dominated early and took a 3-0 lead. The Lakers tried their best to come back, winning the next game by a score of 257-228, but that wasn't enough as the Ladyjacks won the tiebreaker 4-1, eventually winning the whole match, 2-1.