Women's Swimming & Diving Edges Western New England, 135-127

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In a meet that went down to the final race, the Bridgewater State women's swimming team defeated Western New England, 135-127, Wednesday evening at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

The BSU Bears 200-yard freestyle relay squad won the last event in 1:51.63 to edge the Golden Bears by a mere .11 of a second. The team members were sophomore Nelia Borden (Fall River, Mass.), junior Bridget Hasson (Milton, Mass.), freshman Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.), and freshman Taylor Brochu (Cotuit, Mass.).

Brochu was a double winner for the visitors taking the 50 backstroke (31.17) and 50 freestyle (27.93). Rechtiene also hit the finish line first in the 50 breaststroke (35.36) and 100 breaststroke (1:15.20).

Bridgewater placed first in eight of 14 events.

Western New England turned in several outstanding performances of its own as freshman Nicole Birchenough (Lowville, N.Y.) captured both the 100-yard butterfly (1:08.24) and 50 butterfly (30.55).

WNE's 200-yard medley relay squad of junior Danielle Caron (Marlborough, Mass.), junior Courtney Fitzpatrick (Stratford, Conn.), Birchenough, and senior Elise Carrington (Middlebury, Conn.) opened the meet by winning in 2:03.83.

Bridgewater State is now 2-3 while Western New England drops to 0-2.