Women's bowling won three straight best-of-three matches in 2-0 fashion to win the tournament title and the men's squad advanced to the semifinals at the McKendree Baker Challenge February 3-4 in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

After earning the No. 2 seed after 40 baker games, the Lady Lions faced No. 7 seed Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals and quickly dispatched the Cowgirls 193-146 and 237-158. No. 6 seed Illinois State awaited Lindenwood in the semifinals. The Redbirds had upset No. 3 seed Missouri Baptist, but the Lady Lions quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a 215-141 victory, then outlasted Illinois State in game two to advance to the championship match against top seeded Wichita State.

Lindenwood started the first game with a double, immediately putting pressure on the Shockers. The Lady Lions continued to fill frames and kept Wichita at bay for a 196-172 win. Game two was much closer with the two teams trading open frames early, but Lindenwood responded with a double to open up a 23-pin lead, and then filled frames once again. By the 10^th frame, any mark was needed to seal the title and that's what the anchor did with a strike for a 194-177 victory.

Competition began on Saturday with 24 baker games and the Lady Lions jumped out of the gate with 842, their high four-game set of the weekend. Lindenwood topped the 200 mark six more times, including a high of 240 and posted sets of 775, 780, 788, 755, and 701 for a day-one total of 4641 (193.375 average). The Lady Lions had solidified second place, sitting 257-pins behind leader Wichita State, but 339-pins ahead of third place Missouri Baptist.

Lindenwood did not score as well during 16 more games of baker play on Sunday, but maintained second place throughout the day. The Lady Lions broke 200 twice, including games of 216 and 224, and posted sets of 775, 660, 735, and 700, adding 2870 (179.375 average) for a grand total of 7571.

In men's competition, Lindenwood earned the No. 3 seed and faced No. 6 seed Missouri Baptist in the quarterfinals. The Lions filled 20 straight frames in the match and finished game one with six strikes in a row for a 240-207 win. Lindenwood did not blink in game two and pulled away from the Spartans for a 233-178 victory to advance to the semifinals against No. 2 seeded Wichita State.

The Lions couldn't keep their momentum from the first matching going into the second match. After beginning game one with a spare and double, a split gave the Shockers an opening and they took advantage, finishing with a string of strikes to take a 1-0 lead with a 224-176 win. The second game was close through the first few frames, but another split turned the tide against Lindenwood. Wichita State once again finished with a string of strikes for a 232-183 victory to eliminate the Lions.

In a high-scoring environment, Lindenwood broke the 200 mark 16 times in 24 baker games on Saturday. After an opening set of 804, the Lions were third in the standings, but were already 147-pins behind tournament leader and host McKendree. Sets of 787, 846, 844, and 788 followed and included high games of 242, 246, and 247, but the best set of the weekend came next. Lindenwood began it with games of 261 and 249 and finished with 899 for a day-one total of 4968 (207 average). That put the Lions solidly in third place, 375-pins ahead of Vincennes in fourth. The Shockers took over the lead, but were only 217-pins ahead of Lindenwood with the Bearcats in second, 148-pins ahead of the Lions.

With a chance to still climb in the standings, Lindenwood struggled in the first baker set on Sunday, but finished with sets of 866, 861, and 779, including high games of 230, 235, and 250. The Lions added 3251 (203.188 average) for 16-games and posted a grand total of 8219 to earn the No. 3 seed, finishing 325-pins ahead of Rock Valley in fourth and 287-pins behind Wichita State in second.

Men's and women's bowling returns to action at the final "tier 1" major tournament of the season, the 55^th Annual Hoosier Classic, February 10-11 in Indianapolis, Indiana.