Allentown, Pa. - The Saint Francis bowling team is on a quest for bids for both the NCAA National Championship and USBC National Championship.

The Red Flash ladies began competing in the Intercollegiate Team Sectionals at AMF Parkway Lanes. Fifteen teams are competing in the eastern region, with the top four finishers advancing to the National Championship in Reno, Nev. Four teams from each of the four regions of the country will make up the 16 team National Championship field.

After day one the Red Flash are in a tight battle, sitting in 7th place, only 61 pins outside of the top four.

It was a strong afternoon performance making up for a sluggish start to help the Red Flash gain ground. They have a total pinfall of 6062, thanks to a 3184 set for the 16 games bowled in the afternoon. That afternoon block was the 3 highest afteroon score posted. The current leader board looks like
this:

1. Webber-Int. 6768
2. Davenport 6315
3. Md Eastern Shore 6213
4. Wright State 6123
5. Ursuline 6078
6. Kutztown 6069
7. SFU 6062
8. Norfolk State 6045
9. Sacred Heart 6012
10. Bowling Green 5868
11. Erie CC 5793
12 Schenectady CC 5653
13. Hudson Valley 5532
14 Briarcliffe College 5325
15 Lawrence Tech 5247

Christina Leid (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) led the Red Flash with a Baker Frame Average of 21.5, Ashley Howe-Yorio (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) averaged 19.46, Sarah Ross (Crescent, Pa./Moon Area) 19.32, Briana Ord (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) 18.78 and Lauren Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) with 17.86. Shelby Derr (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) averaged 18.8 for 18 frames.

"We learned something about ourselves this afternoon that will be the key to tomorrow and the rest of our journey,. "" head coach Tom Falbo saidTomorrow we are going to 'have a day' and give it our best."

On Sunday, the Red Flash ladies finish the sectional qualifier with 32 Baker Games at Parkway Lanes.