Ball State University Athletics
Women's Swim & Dive Takes On Conference Foe Ohio
January 28, 2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. – Coming off a major Mid-American Conference victory over Toledo last weekend, the Ball State women's swimming and diving program will head into its final meet of the regular season with momentum to take on MAC foe Ohio on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Last weekend, the Cardinals conquered Toledo in an emotional 151-149 win and earned eight event wins in the process.
The day started out with a strong Ball State event win in the 400 medley relay. Junior Courtney Mudd combined with sophomore Amanda Kedzierski, sophomore Andrea Richter and junior Jessica Extine to mark a time of 3:55.64. The feat was a new season-best from the Ball State team.
There was then a break to transition to one-meter diving action, in which the Cardinals swept the event with Zirzow earning a score of 265.43, junior Brittany Penn earning a season-best 254.03 and sophomore Taylor Fiew coming in at 247.05. Other Ball State divers Courtney McKeen (career-best, 238.20), Quinn Bixler (228.75) and Lauren Kessinger (career-best, 210.23) also participated in the event.
The Cardinals then went on a roll to head into the final two events of the meet with three consecutive event wins. In the lanes, Madison clocked in at 5:12.32 in the 500 freestyle and Richter posted a 57.78 in the 100 fly, just ahead of Toledo's Katrin Streicher's 58.40.
The emotionally charged meet was closed out with a tight race in the 200 freestyle relay, in which the Cardinals came in needing a first place finish to win the meet. That goal was conquered by the combination of Kedzierski, Madison, freshman Lauren Elston and Extine in a time of 1:37.37. With the 11 point victory, the Cardinals came up with a 151 final to Toledo's 149.
Going 4-4 this season and 0-3 in the MAC, the Ohio Bobcats are coming off a 185-112 loss at Buffalo on Jan. 23. Ohio claimed four first-place finishes and a podium sweep in the 100 butterfly. Ohio claimed its first win of the meet in the 100 backstroke when Addison Ferguson touched in at 56.95. In the 100 fly, Ferguson claimed first with a time of 57.32 while Elena Patz followed in second with a time of 58.38 and Carrie Dukes took third in 58.58. Prior to the Women's MAC Championships, the Bobcats will participate in the Marshall Invite in Huntington, W.V. from Feb. 5-6.
Looking ahead, select members of the Ball State women's swimming and diving team will take on the Ohio State Winter Invitational from Feb. 13-14, prior to the Women's MAC Championships scheduled from Feb. 24-27 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's swimming and diving action, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateWSwim on Twitter.
