EAST COAST CONFERENCE For Immediate Release Media Relations Friday, January 22, 2021 Twitter: @ECCSports Casey Rafferty Facebook: /eccsports [email protected] www.eccsports.org YouTube: /EastCoastConference Instagram: @ECCSports Lincoln Memorial Tabbed as ECC Bowling Preseason Favorite West Babylon, N.Y. ‐ Lincoln Memorial Universityʹs womenʹs bowling team was deemed the East Coast Conference favorite in the leagueʹs preseason coachesʹ poll announced on Friday afternoon. Reigning ECC Bowler of the Year, Haley Youker (East Syracuse, N.Y.) of Mercyhurst, was also selected as the leagueʹs Preseason Bowler of the Year. Lincoln Memorial begins what will be an abbreviated season due to the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic atop the ECC poll after claiming eight out of 11 first‐place votes for 117 points. The Lady Railsplitters, who are also ranked No. 23 nationally in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll, compiled a 55‐47 record last season. Six bowlers return from last yearʹs squad, including former ECC All‐Conference selections, Tyra Sanchez and Justine Brookover. Chestnut Hill, Caldwell, and Molloy were separated by just five points for the No. 2 through No. 4 spots in the poll. Chestnut Hill was second with one first‐place vote and 95 points, while Caldwell was third, also with one first‐place vote and 91 points. Molloy followed closely behind with 90 points to come in fourth. Tusculum totaled 67 points to finish in fifth. Felician was close behind in sixth with 62 points. Daemen, Mercyhurst, Roberts Wesleyan, Bloomfield, and St. Thomas Aquinas round out the remainder of the poll. Mercyhurst claimed the final first‐place vote. Three conference members ‐ Adelphi, Kutztown, and Wilmington ‐ have opted out of the season. Youker claims the conferenceʹs preseason honor after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw her named an NTCA All‐ American and the ECC Bowler of the Year. She ranked among the nationʹs best by finishing in the top‐15 nationally in traditional average (208.15 ‐ 8th) and NTCA Player Composite Performance Index (89.48 ‐ 15th). In addition, her name was littered across the conference leader board. She topped the ECC in overall frame average by nearly a full pin (20.46 to 19.63), while also leading the loop in frame fill percentage (84.3), traditional format frame average (20.82), Baker format frame average (20.12), strike percentage (51.8), individual first ball 9+ percentage (76.4), and anchor bowling 10th frame scoring average (20.33). 2021 ECC Womenʹs Bowling Preseason Poll School Pts. 1. Lincoln Memorial (8) 117 2. Chestnut Hill (1) 95 3. Caldwell (1) 91 4. Molloy 90 5. Tusculum 67 6. Felician 62 7. Daemen 58 8. Mercyhurst (1) 57 9. Roberts Wesleyan 44 10. Bloomfield 29 11. St. Thomas Aquinas 16 ( ) ‐ first place votes 609 Route 109 ● Suite 2D ● West Babylon, NY 11704 ● (p) 631-348-3452 *********************************** About the ECC Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student‐athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, Conn.); Daemen College (Amherst, N.Y.); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); DʹYouville College (Buffalo, N.Y.); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, N.Y.);; Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, N.Y.); College of Staten Island (Staten Island, N.Y.); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.). Associate Members include: Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.); Bloomfield College (Bloomfield, N.J.); Caldwell University (Caldwell, N.J.); Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia, Pa.); Farmingdale State College (Farmingdale, N.Y.); Felician University (Rutherford, N.J.); Five Towns College (Dix Hills, N.Y.); Georgian Court University (Lakewood, N.J.); Holy Family University (Philadelphia, Pa.); Hood College (Frederick, Md.); Kutztown University (Kutztown, Pa.); Lincoln University (Lincoln University, Pa.); Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, Tenn.); Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pa.); Post University (Waterbury, Conn.); Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, N.H.); SUNY Old Westbury (Old Westbury, N.Y.); Tusculum University (Greeneville, Tenn.); and Wilmington University (New Castle, Del.). The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; womenʹs bowling; men’s and women’s cross country; Esports (Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, and League of Legends); men’s and women’s lacrosse; softball; men’s and women’s tennis; men’s and women’s indoor track and field; men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; and women’s volleyball. The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student‐athlete. ### ECCSports.org ### 609 Route 109 ● Suite 2D ● West Babylon, NY 11704 ● (p) 631-348-3452 .