Women's Swimming Falls to WNEC, 140-121

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Despite three individual wins from sophomore Loren Phinney (Holbrook, Mass.), the Bridgewater State University women's swim team dropped a 140-121 decision to visiting Western New England College on Friday evening at the Mary Jo Moriarty Pool in Bridgewater.

Phinney placed first in the 200 freestyle (2:09.82), 100 backstroke (1:07.99) and 500 freestyle (5:50.61) events.  She also swam a leg on the Bears' winning 200 freestyle relay squad along with juniors Lauren Gale (Norwich, Conn.) and Caroline McMillan (Whitman, Mass.), and freshman Ariel Gillis (Blackstone, Mass.).

McMillan also captured the top spot in the 50 freestyle with a time of 28.84 seconds.  Sophomore Rhiannon White (Falmouth, Mass.) was a double-winner for the Bears as she finished first in the 100 butterfly (1:06.24) and 200 individual medley (2:31.71).

Leading the way for the visiting Golden Bears was sophomore Courtney Fitzpatrick (Stratford, Conn.).  Fitzpatrick placed first in both the 50 breaststroke (:36.52) and 100 breaststroke (1:18.80) events.  She also joined seniors Tiffany Santilli (Southbridge, Mass.) and Aimee Smachetti (Bristol, Conn.), and sophomore Danielle Caron (Marlborough, Mass.) in the 200 medley relay as they finished first with a time of 2:06.36.

Caron also captured the top spot in the 50 backstroke (:32.42).  Junior Ashley Petersen (Manchester, Conn.) was also a double-winner for WNEC as she finished first in both the 1,650 freestyle (21:07.10) and 100 freestyle (1:01.75).

With the loss, Bridgewater falls to 1-6 in dual meet action on the season.  The Bears will be back in the pool tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM as they will entertain the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University.