LIMERICK, Pa. – The LIU Post women's bowling team returned to the lanes at the Kutztown Invitational after a seven-week hiatus at Limerick Bowl, Friday, Jan. 18-Sunday, Jan. 20.
 
The Pioneers posted a 27th-place finish at the event stacked with tough competition, including numerous top-25 teams. Overall LIU Post earned four victories during the event, including a 1,034-953 victory against No. 20 Saint Francis University to begin the event during the baker format on Friday.
 
Sophomore Emily Cavanaugh led the Pioneers who posted a 195.6 average during the first day of competition and a 188.6 average during the traditional format. Cavanaugh added a team-high game of 243 against No. 5 Delaware State University on Saturday. Freshmen Rhianna Smith and Teresa LoCurto each averaged over 175 during the traditional format, with Smith posting a 177.25 game average and LoCurto registering a 176.33 average.
 
The Green and Gold opened the competition with its best baker format score of the event against the Red Flash to earn its third win against a top-25 opponent this season. Looking for another upset bid in its second match, LIU Post came up just five pins short of No. 9 University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 926-921. After dropping the remainder of their matches on day one, the Pioneers opened the traditional format against Morgan State University on Saturday, falling by a 921-859 final tally.
 
It was a bounce back effort in the day's second match, as the Green and Gold upended Mount St. Mary's University, 865-825 before suffering defeats to No. 14 Adelphi University and Delaware State.
 
The Pioneers earned a bye against Morgan State University in their opening match of the bracket match play final, advancing to face Howard University in the second round. After tying the first game, 179-179, Howard took the next two games to take a two-game lead in the best-of-seven series. The Pioneers bounced back to take the next three games, and despite rolling a match-best score of 204, the Bison responded with a game of 212 in the final game to force a tiebreak series. Howard continued to use its momentum to hang on for a narrow 86-82 win in the tiebreak and the Pioneers earned another victory via a bye to close out the event.
 
LIU Post returns to Pennsylvania on Saturday, Jan. 26 when it competes at Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis at Holiday Bowl.