The Saint Francis University bowling team concluded the 2023-24 season at the Northeast Conference Championship with a 2-0 loss to Merrimack on Friday at Hamilton Lanes in Hamilton, N.J.

The fifth-seeded Red Flash were tabbed to compete against No. 4 Merrimack in the single-elimination play-in battle to open the NEC Championship, and while the Red Flash managed to gain traction in the baker portion of the competition, their output was no match for the 16th-ranked team in the nation that gained steam as they entered the postseason.

HOW IT WENT DOWN
The mega-match-style competition opened with traditional play, where the Flash tried to shake off month-old rust after not competing since the third Northeast Conference regular season tournament in mid-February. Sophomore Ayanna Carroll had the top traditional performance among Saint Francis bowlers, rolling a 191 in the third spot as she held steady throughout the first part of the competition.

The baker portion of the morning saw the Flash remain consistent, as the team posted a pair of games over 200 pins. They topped the Warriors in the third of five games, scoring a team-high 208 with a lineup of seniors Marissa Metcalfe, Samantha Timm and Emma Meade, as well as sophomore Ayanna Carroll and freshman Hayden Bennett. The Flash couldn't manage another winning score, losing the baker battle and falling to the Warriors in straight matches.

Saint Francis competed in the postseason without fourth-year head coach Ashley Bingham, who was sidelined due to health concerns for the tournament. Saint Francis Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration/Senior Woman Administrator Lisa Swope took Bingham's place at the helm of the team.

REGULAR SEASON RECAP
The Frankies finished the 2023-24 season with a 47-52 regular season record while compiling double-digit conference wins for the first time since 2019. Their winning ways earned them votes from the National Tenpin Coaches Association in three of the four polls released throughout the season. 

They defeated many top-ranked opponents along the way, opening the season with a 939-913 victory over No. 3 Nebraska at the Penguin Classic, which they followed with a conference-opening win over No. 11 Duquesne, their first victory over the Dukes since 2019. Saint Francis was the only program in the country to go undefeated in multiple attempts against reigning national champion Vanderbilt, as they defeated the nation's No. 1 team 1053-999 at the UMES Hawk Classic and topped the Commodores again in a 761-722 win at the Northeast Classic in January.

The Red Flash wrapped up their season with their second consecutive postseason appearance and second under Bingham. 

FOLLOW ALONG
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