HARAHAN, La. — The Louisiana Tech bowling team averages 213.7 over 17 games but would fall 2-1 to No. 9 Stephen F. Austin in an elimination match at the Conference USA Championship at Colonial Lanes on Thursday.
 
The 11th-ranked Bulldogs (83-45) took the opening set 1,039-926. After picking up the 10-pin to open the game, Kylee Trexler connected on 10 of her next 11 shots to lead the way with a 254. Rachel Ong wasn't far behind with a 223, and Abbie Leiendecker anchored with a 211. Allyson Sand came in to finish a 202 for the other score in the plus for Tech.
 
The Baker match had both teams averaging over 225, with the point coming down to the final frame. The Ladyjacks took a 25-pin lead after taking the opening game 247-222. SFA increased the lead to 67 after taking games two and three, 229-201 and 204-190. Louisiana Tech started to make a move in game four and cut the deficit in half with a 236-204 win.
 
The teams started the final game shot for shot and looked to be on their way to both shooting in the 270s. However, SFA would leave the door open with two spares. In the 10th frame, Leiendecker needed to strike out to force the Ladyjack's anchor to double and get a nine count. She connected on the first two and got an eight count. SFA's anchor followed suit and tied the match up.
 
The best-of-seven started with SFA winning another 10thg-frame finish, 221-219. Tech flipped the script in game two, striking out in the 10th for a 199-188 win. The Bulldogs would easily win the next two, 214-149 and 222-187.
 
Needed to win just one game, LA Tech would only roll four doubles over the next three games. The Bulldogs still had a chance in game five with only one double. The difference would be pin count after spares, as SFA won 204-198. The Ladyjacks would take the final two, 247-225 and 212-192, with both coming down to the end.
 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will wait to see if they will be selected as an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional for the fifth year in a row. The selection show is Wednesday at 4 p.m.
 
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