Women's Swimming & Diving Falls to Westfield State, 171-126

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's swimming and diving team dropped a 171-126 decision to host Westfield State University on Monday afternoon.

Seniors Nelia Borden (Westport, Mass.) and Chelsea Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) each captured a pair of individual events to lead the Bears who dropped to 7-6 in dual meet competition.

The Owls even their record to 3-3 with the victory over their Little East Conference rival.

Nolan grabbed top honors in the 1,000 freestyle (11:55.14) and 500 freestyle (5:54.60) events.

Borden placed first in both the 200 freestyle (2:12.94) and 100 freestyle (1:00.34).  She also swam a leg on the Bears' winning 200 freestyle relay (1:53.06) along with classmate Ariel Gillis (Blackstone, Mass.), junior Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.) and sophomore Michaela Pereira (Rehoboth, Mass.).

Rechtiene also touched the wall first in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.46), while senior Ashley Dunican (Bennington, Vt.) won the 50 backstroke (31.18).

Senior Kirsten LaMotte (Amherst, Mass.) and juniors Katie Sterpka (Barkhamsted, Conn.) and Holly Arel (Chicopee, Mass.) each won two events to propel the Owls to the win.

Sterpka broke a 24-year-old school record in the three-meter diving (six dives) with a score of 273.15 points. The previous record of 271.35 was set by Lori Vincent in 1990. Sterpka also dominated the one-meter diving competition with a score of 256.50.

LaMotte was a double winner in the 50 breaststroke (33.33) and 100 individual medley (1:09.57).

Arel touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly (1:07.09) and 50 butterfly (30.17). In addition, LaMotte and Arel were members of the winning 200 medley relay team along with freshman Anna Boucher (Suffield, Conn.) and sophomore Haylee McQuay (Dartmouth, Mass.).

McQuay finished first in the 50 freestyle (27.83) and second in the 100 freestyle. Also placing first for Westfield was junior Kerry Sullivan (Acton) in the 100 backstroke (1:08.85).

The Bears led 41-33 after the first four events, but Westfield responded by taking 54 of a possible 76 points over the next four events on the strength of four straight first-place showings.

Westfield's depth would be too much to overcome as the Owls placed first in nine of the 16 events and recorded 12 second place finishes.

In upcoming action, the Bears host Babson College on Thursday evening at six.