COLUMBUS, Ohio (2/26/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's fencing squad placed ninth out of 20 teams Sunday at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championship, held on Sunday from French Field House at Ohio State University. The individual conference portion of the meet was held Saturday at OSU.

The Titans earned 405 points overall across their three weapons. Northwestern won the league title, edging out Ohio State (795 points to 780 points). 

Detroit Mercy finished 10th in sabre, 13th in epee and 14th in foil during the team part of the conference meet on Sunday.

Individual Competition
The Titans best finisher during Saturday's individual competition was sophomore Aya El-Mokadam, who placed 16th in epee for the Titans. A newcomer to fencing this season, El-Mokadam was seeded 23rd entering the day and was 53rd after pool play. However, she won two-straight direct elimination bouts, winning 15-6 over Wayne State's Alisa Kishta (No. 12 seed) and 15-11 over 21st-seeded Liang-Yuan Wang.

El-Mokadam fell 15-4 to Northwestern's Anya Harkness in the round of 16, but her two wins helped her earn a 16th in epee for the Titans.

In sabre, sophomore Savannah Lee earned three pool-play victories, while junior Erica Tessmer picked up two pool play wins as they entered direct elimination competition seeded 27th and 30th, respectively. Lee won her first bout 15-5 before falling to No. 6 seed Abby Tartell of Northwestern. Tessmer dropped her first DE bout to Indiana's Megan Chio, 15-8. Lee finished in a tie-for-26th, while Tessmer placed 35th.

Danielle Spencer was the top placer for the Titans in foil, finishing 29th. She won three pool-play bouts and posted a 15-6 direct elimination win over Indiana's Jessica Kelly, but then dropped a 15-3 bout against No. 4 seeded Yvonne Chart of Northwestern. Freshman Andrea Sandoval also placed 41st in the foil for the Titans, earning one pool-play victory.

Sophomore Chanel Lindsay picked up two pool-play triumphs before the DE and then dropped her first match against No. 23 seeded Tianna Kwok of Indiana, 15-3. Lindsay placed 43rd overall in epee. Sophomore Alexandria Zimmerman earned a pool-play win and placed 49th for Detroit Mercy in epee.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy next prepares for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, which will be held on Sunday, March 11 in Cleveland, Ohio. Several individuals will compete at the chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships from March 23-26 at Penn State.