Women's Swimming Takes Down RIC 116-73, Earns Sixth Win of the Year

Springfield, Mass. (January 8, 2023) – The Golden Bears returned to the pool on Sunday afternoon after going on winter break for the holidays. They returned with a bang as they hosted Rhode Island College and took them down by a score of 116-73. 

Result:

Western New England: 116

Rhode Island College: 73

How it Happened:

The day's first event was the 200-yard medley relay, and it saw RIC edge out WNE by about two seconds. Renee Lussier and Hailey Dion got the Golden Bears started for points as they got first and second in the 1000-yard freestyle. Dion dropped almost 14 seconds in that swim. The 200 freestyle was the next event, and Katarina DaSilva would grab second place in the race to earn more points for the team. Caitlin Hall and Lussier went first and third in the 50-yard freestyle. Hall earned a best time of 27.28, and so did Morgan Potler, who got fourth in the race. Potler dropped 0.77 seconds for a best time. The momentum was starting to shift, and it could be felt in the pool. Megan Morissey got first in the 100-yard IM. Morissey was followed by Amanda Robinson in third and Alexa Adams in fourth. This was Morissey's first IM of the year, and was able to earn a time of 1:22.90. The 50 butterfly was next and again, a first-place finish for the Golden Bears. Adams earned first in that event and had Jillian Croteau following with a fourth-place finish. Croteau earned a best time with that swim. Hall and DaSilva followed that event up with a first and third finish in the 100-yard freestyle, with both right around their best times. Potler was also in that race and got another best time. 

After that race, the Golden Bears got second and third in the 50 backstroke, with Dion grabbing second and Taylor Gravel snagging third. Gravel earned a best time of 39.41. This season, the 500 freestyle has been another great event for the Golden Bears. It was no different today. Morissey was able to take first place, and DaSilva got third, with this being the first time DaSilva has swam the 500-yard freestyle this season. The 50 backstroke followed the 500 free, and again the Golden Bears won the event. Robinson got first, and Croteau earned another best time with a drop of almost a second and a half. The Final race of the day was the 200 freestyle relay. WNE ended the day the same way they had been racing. With a big one, two finish. Adams, Lussier, Robinson, and Hall were all part of the first-place finishing team. Dion, Potler, Croteau, and Gravel each had personal best times in everything they swam that they had times for. Big day for the Golden Bears!

Up Next:

The Golden Bears will be back in the water next weekend as they travel to Mount Holyoke College for the Sisters Invitational. That meet is two days long. Saturday, January 14, the meet will be at 10:30 AM. Sunday, January 15, the meet will start at 9:00 AM.