ADDISON, Ill. - The Lewis University women's bowling team placed eighth out of 18 teams Sunday (March 13) at the Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Sectionals competition at Stardust Bowl. The top four teams advanced to nationals, which will take place in April in Addison.

The tournament consisted of 16 four-game baker blocks over two days for a total of 64 baker games.

The Flyers got out to a quick start with an opening set of 827 to sit in third place and then jumped up to second place after the second set after a 770., However, they finished the morning session in sixth place with a 3,036 after 16 games.

After a slow start in the first set of the afternoon, the Flyers reeled off back-to-back 800 sets, followed by a 784 to finish the day. They shot a 3,147 in the afternoon, but dropped to eighth place, within 100 pins from fourth.

Lewis again came out with a strong morning set Sunday as a 792 bumped it to within 100 pins of second place at the time. However, a 692 in the second moved them to 150 pins away from fourth. The Flyers put a 3,082 for the session and were in seventh place overall.

The Flyers finished the final set with a 3,062 for a 12,347 grand total. That total would have won them one of the other sectionals and placed them third in another.

Kylie Johnson (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere North) led the way for the Flyers with a 53 percent strike percentage (100-of-188), a 94 percent single pin percentage (34-of-36) and a 90 percent fill percentage (156-of-174). Jenna Sussenbach (Naperville, Ill./Plainfield North) added a 50.6 percent strike percentage (41-of-81).

Mount Mercy won the tournament with a 13,585, while Lawrence Tech was second with a 12,826, Louisiana Tech was third with a 12,767 and Duquesne was fourth with a 12,761.

Lewis had five individuals compete Friday in the Intercollegiate Singles Competition. DeAlani Fishbeck (Lawton, Okla./Lawton) was the top finisher, placing 55th with a 1,128 six-game series. Erica Lohr (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) added a 1,050, Kelsey Olson (South Beloit, ILL./Hononegah) had a 1,036, Savanna Jourdan (Oswego, ILL./Oswego) shot a 1,016 and Kayla Dench (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) had a 999.

The Flyers turn their attention back to NCAA play with the Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tennessee beginning Friday.