Women's Swimming & Diving Drops 163-129 Decision to Westfield

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Westfield State University women's swimming and diving team posted a 163-129 victory over Bridgewater State University on Sunday afternoon at the Moriarty Pool.

The Owls even their dual meet record at 3-3 with the win, while the Bears slip to 6-5 on the season.

Westfield's relay team of senior Katie Cox (South Hadley, Mass.), junior Kirsten LaMotte (Amherst, Mass.) and sophomores Amanda Labriola (Westerly, R.I.) and Katie Inoue (East Falmouth, Mass.) opened the meet by posting a first place time of 2:00.68 in the 200 medley relay.

LaMotte added three individual wins in the 50 breaststroke (32.90), 50 freestyle (27.34) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.19), while Cox placed first in both the 200 freestyle (2:08.70) and 100 freestyle (59.33).  Labriola also won a pair of events in the 50 backstroke (30.61) and 100 backstroke (1:06.97), while Inoue touched the wall first in the 50 butterfly (31.38).

Junior Chelsea Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) paced the hosts with a pair of individual victories.  Nolan placed first in both the 1,000 freestyle (11:47.44) and the 500 freestyle (5:54.50) events.

Senior Rhiannon White (Falmouth, Mass.) added a win in the 100 butterfly (1:09.79), while the Bears' 200 freestyle relay team of juniors Nelia Borden (Westport, Mass.) and Ashley Dunican (Bennington, Vt.) and sophomores Kristen Carey (East Taunton, Mass.) and Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.) won the event with a time of 1:51.23.

Westfield sophomore Katie Sterpka (Barkhamsted, Conn.) won both diving events with a score of 247.20 points on the one-meter board and 223.70 points on the three-meter.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Bentley University on Tuesday night (6:00), while the Owls entertain Saint Joseph College on Saturday afternoon (1:00).