ALTOONA, Pa. (Feb. 26, 2012) – The Saint Francis University bowling team concluded the Pennsylvania State Championship with a second place showing at Holiday Bowl in Altoona.

Sophomore Marissa Matassa (Plum, Pa./Plum Senior) earned all-tournament team honors for her performance in the two-day event. High baker frame averages for the day were held by Lauren Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) - 20.38 and Christina Leid (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) - 19.52

"Marissa's performance was good to see," head coach Tom Falbo said. "This was about a maturing player being patient and focusing on being in control the entire day. It was about Marissa being in tune with her physical and mental game, and just letting it happen."

During Sunday's best of seven baker style of play, the Red Flash held the high seeded game to begin the final round. SFU defeated No. 14 Kutztown 4-3 in a tightly contested battle. Saint Francis got the better of the Golden Bears in the final game of the match with a 187 game compared to Kutztown's 157 final tally.
SFU recorded a bye in the second stanza of the day and advanced to the championship match, again against Kutztown. This time though it would be the Golden Bears who scored the 4-3 win to claim the championship.

"Our team executed our plan and anticipated the lane transition so well in the first match against Kutztown, then went on to gain a 3-2 lead in the championship match," Falbo said. "The last two games were hard fought but just short at the end. Credit to Kutztown on the win, and now we look forward to our conference matches in New Jersey."

Tournament host Penn State Altoona took third place, while Cheyney and Lincoln rounded out the remainder of the five-team field in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Saint Francis will bowl in the final Northeast Conference event of the season this weekend as they head to Teaneck, N.J. to see where their fate lies for the NEC Championship.