Nolan Breaks 50 Backstroke Mark as Women's Swimming & Diving Wins BSU Invitational

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior Haley Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) set the school record in the 50 backstroke to help lead the Bridgewater State University women's swimming & diving team to a first place finish at the BSU Invitational held on Saturday at the Dr. Mary Jo Moriarty Pool.

Bridgewater State won the meet with a score of 578 points. The University of New England finished second with 525 points, while Western New England University (270 pts.) rounded out the top three. The Bears placed first in nine of the 18 events.

Nolan posted a time of 29.09 seconds in the backstroke during the opening leg of the 200 medley relay as she eclipsed her own previous BSU mark of 29.29 seconds set earlier this season. Nolan and sophomore Adi Tobias (North Attleboro, Mass.), senior Abbie Grant (Mansfield, Mass.) and junior Danielle Souza (Mansfield, Mass.) placed first in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:57.44.

Nolan also captured top honors in the 100 backstroke (1:03.51) and the 200 backstroke (2:21.68), while Grant was the first to touch the wall in the 50 butterfly (28.69).

Sophomore Mackenzie Coogan (Assonet, Mass.) won a pair of individual events as she placed first in both the 200 freestyle (2:03.57) and the 50 freestyle (26.10) events.

Coogan, freshman Allison Hunt (Norton, Mass.), Souza and Grant teamed up to win the 400 freestyle relay as the foursome posted a time of 3:56.14.

Junior Kate Karl-Morin (Salem, Mass.) and senior Amanda Brennen (Waltham, Mass.) rounded out the Bears' event winners. Karl-Morin posted a score of 126.25 points on the one-meter diving board, while Brennen placed first in the 200 breaststroke (2:41.68).

The BSU swimming & diving teams are off until Saturday, January 6th when they travel to Elms College for a one o'clock meet with the Blazers.