FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Newman bowling programs continued to make progress toward a potential post-season run with a pair of fifth-place finishes at the McKendree Baker Challenge in Fairview Heights, Ill.

The nature of the event, along with the field of competition, gave last weekend's event a true post-season feel. Teams bowled nothing but baker games, and had to make the cut (top-8) to continue to best-of-thre elimination matches in order to win the championship.

Seven of the top-10 ranked teams in the nation were present at the tournament, and the Newman women were up to the challenge, bowling a consistently high-level, and giving the best teams in the nation a run for the money. The Jets found themselves in fifth place after the first day, traling cross-town rival, and No. 4-ranked Wichita State by just 25 pins. Newman couldn't make a huge run in Sunday's games, but managed to make the cut, and drew Wichita State in a head-to-head, best-of-three elimination match. WSU simply had too much for the Jets, and the Shockers eliminated Newman with a two-match sweep, but it wasn't completely uncontested. Newman dropped the second game by just 10 pins, 240-230.

The Newman men, meanwhile, got off to one of their worst starts of the season, but rallied with a great effort on Saturday, and put themselves in position to make the cut to match play on Sunday. After digging themselves a hole into 20th-place early on Saturday, the Jets found themselves in seventh play when Saturday's competition concluded. Newman used a spirited effort on Sunday, and bowled well to make the cut. When the draw for head-to-head match play was announced, the Jets had drawn No. 3 Morehead State. That's where Newman ran out of steam. Morehead bowled games of 245 and 237, and handed the Jets a 2-0 sweep.

Both teams finished tied for fifth in their respective tournaments.

Next up for the Jets is a trip to Indianapolis for the Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic, which is slated to begin Feb. 17.