Women's Swimming & Diving Captures Ten Events in 206-184 Setback to WPI

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's swimming and diving team placed first in ten events during a 206-184 setback to visiting WPI on Saturday at the Moriarty Pool.

The meet marked the regular season-finale for both teams.  The visiting Engineers improve to 9-3 in dual meet action, while the Bears slip to 6-8.

Junior Ashley Dunican (Bennington, Vt.) and sophomore Kendra Perry (Middleboro, Mass.) paced the host Bears with two individual wins apiece.  Dunican captured top honors in both the 100 backstroke (1:07.29) and 200 backstroke (2:24.26) events, while Perry placed first in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.74) and 400 individual medley (5:12.97).

Juniors Chelsea Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) and Ariel Gillis (Blackstone, Mass.) added wins in the 200 freestyle (2:09.56) and 100 freestyle (1:01.85), respectively, while sophomore Taylor Brochu (Cotuit, Mass.) was the first to touch the wall in the 50 backstroke (31.53) and classmate Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.) placed first in the 200 breaststroke (2:37.43).  Freshman Kerri Davis (Haverhill, Mass.) added top honors in the 1,650 freestyle (22:12.84).

Brochu, Rechtiene, junior Nelia Borden (Westport, Mass.) and sophomore Kristen Carey (East Taunton, Mass.) won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:50.54.

Freshman Tiffany Easter (Easton, Mass.) posted season-best scores on both the one-meter and three-meter diving boards as she finished second in each event.  Easter registered a score of 180.00 points on the one-meter plank and 191.70 points on the three-meter.

Prior to the meet, the Bears honored seniors Bridget Hasson (Milton, Mass.) and Rhiannon White (Falmouth, Mass.).  Hasson and White were competing in their final home meet.

Next week, the Bears will compete at the NEISDA Division II/III Swimming Championships at the Upper Valley Aquatics Center in White River Junction, Vermont.  The meet takes place from February 8-10.