ALTOONA, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2012) - For the first time in the program's three-year history, the Saint Francis University bowling team took home top honors at its own tournament, the Red Flash Invitational Sunday afternoon.

"Today was a result of a talented team becoming a championship caliber team. Our ladies have now won three tournaments on three different oil patterns," head coach Tom Falbo said. "This weekend's oil pattern was challenging. We came into it with a lot of confidence and ended the day knowing that when we focus on teamwork and simply executing our plan, good things will happen. It was a quality field and it was humbling and satisfying to succeed at home. The support from our fans and our university is the best. Now the ladies need to focus hard on their finals and then a well deserved holiday break."

Runner-up the past two seasons, the Red Flash broke through Sunday to earn their third tournament team victory of the 2012-13 season. Saint Francis marched past Kutztown in the opening round of Sunday's championship bracket round to begin the day. SFU won the best four-of-seven baker match 4-2, edging the Golden Bears in the final two games 201-196 and 200-191. A rundown of the Kutztown match finished as follows: 266-232, 178-224, 214-168, 196-222, 201-196 and 200-191. Saint Francis received a bye in the second round and moved on to face Ursuline in the finals.

The Arrows upset not one but two squads on its way to the championship round, first downing New Jersey City 4-3 and then slid past Kutztown 4-3 as well in round two. The final game between Ursuline and Kutztown came down to the wire as the Arrows took the final game 187-180.

Despite Ursuline's ability to upset teams on Sunday in thrilling fashion, the Red Flash proved to be too much for the Arrows and took the championship in four straight games. Game scores finished as follows: 214-197, 192-168, 213-190 and 182-176.

Baker frame averages for Sunday's championship round finished as follows for the Red Flash: Ashley Howe 21.36, Heidi Baumert (Lincoln, Neb./Pius X) 18.28, Marissa Matassa (Plum, Pa./Plum Senior) 20.38, Christina Leid (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) 21.09 and Lauren Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) 19.86.

Saint Francis enjoys nearly a two-month break in between tournaments and will get back to the lanes Jan. 25-27 at the KU Invitational in Reading, Pa.

Final Standings
1. Saint Francis
2. Ursuline
3. Kutztown
4. New Jersey City
5. Medaille
6. Penn State Altoona
7. Salem International