LANSING, Mich. -- Defending its Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference title proved to be too much for the University of St. Francis men's bowling team as the Saints managed just one victory in bracket play to finish tied for fifth place out of eight teams at the WHAC Championships on Saturday.

The team champion in its first year in the league last winter, USF edged out Madonna University (Mich.) to begin play on Saturday.  After splitting their first four games in the best-of-five series, the two teams wound up tying in the deciding game with 202 pins knocked down each.  The Saints were able to advance on a tie-breaker.

The rest of the day was not as positive as head coach Tony Talley's team dropped a pair of matchups to bow out of the tournament.  After falling in three games to Lourdes University (Ohio), the Saints opened their elimination round with Rochester Christian University (Mich.), winning Game 1, 242-205.  In each of the other three sets, however, St. Francis fell by less than 20 pins to end its tournament.

On the reserve front, USF battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits against Indiana Institute of Technology before falling in the fifth game, 201-160.  The Saints then lost in four games to Aquinas College (Mich.) to end their season.

Up Next
USF heads to Fort Worth, Tex. to compete in the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Singles & Team Championships from March 13-15.   

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