Hamilton, NJ.- The Mercyhurst Women's Bowling team made some history this weekend after they placed third at the NEC Championship in Hamilton, NJ. The Lakers picked up a big comeback win over Duquesne before they dropped two straight to FDU and Duquesne to conclude their time there. The team was the first program in school history to compete in an NEC postseason tournament.
 
How it Happened:
On Friday, the No. 3 seed Lakers matched up with the No. 2 seed Duquesne to kick off the weekend. Mercyhurst found themselves behind after the first game, which played in the traditional format. Mercyhurst and Duquesne played a tight first game, which saw the Lakers lose by just three pins. Nikki Lemponen led the way with a score of 230, while the Lakers rookie duo also rolled above 200. Mackensie Livingston and Tia Germanich rolled a 201 and a 210, respectfully. But it wasn't enough in the 1,010-1,007 defeat. But Mercyhurst took control in the Baker format. Mercyhurst outscored Duquesne in three of the five games played to force a winner take all best-of-seven baker match. In the second game, the won 972-897 and sealed with a 246-169 win in the fifth game. In the lone best-of-seven game of the competition, the Lakers pulled away in game six and seven with a 204-201 win and a 176-173 win to advance to the winner's bracket.
 
Day two started a match against the No. 1 seed FDU Knights. Mercyhurst once again saw an extremely close loss in the traditional format. Ahmielle Roberts and Aubrey Stewart saw themselves combine for 224, but it wasn't enough in the heartbreaking 938-937 loss. FDU then ran away with the match in the Baker format after they won games two through five. They won 1,026 to 897 to make their way to the championship match. But the Lakers had one more chance as they once again faced Duquesne.
 
This time, Duquesne made things a little more decisive. They stole a 937-903 win in the traditional format to take a 1-0 lead. Roberts once again led the team in that format as she rolled a 193. The Lakers then saw their time at the championship end after they suffered a 1,030-963 loss in the Baker format. Mercyhurst actually won three of five games, but based on the total pinfall format, they dropped the contest.
 
Despite the losses, the Lakers still made some big history as they finished in third place in the NEC in their first season at the Division I level.