Jan. 8, 2011
The No. 8 Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team split a double dual in Dallas with a 203-82 win over No. 21 SMU and a 169-126 loss to No. 2 Georgia on Saturday at SMU's Perkins Natatorium.
The Aggies won 12 of 16 events against the Mustangs and five of 16 against the Bulldogs, and A&M had five individuals and one relay post NCAA "B" qualifying cuts. A&M finished its weekend road swing through the Metroplex with a 2-1 record that included wins over North Texas and SMU.
"We had some very good swims and I'm pleased with the way we competed," Aggie head swimming coach Steve Bultman said. "We did a good job off coming out fast and getting after Georgia and SMU. Georgia regrouped and responded with a very strong second half. It was a solid win over SMU and a loss to Georgia, which is very deserving of its No. 2 national ranking."
The Aggies opened the meet with a win over both Georgia and SMU in the 200-yard medley relay with the foursome of sophomore Tess Simpson, freshman Breeja Larson, freshman Paige Miller and senior Maria Sommer placing first in an NCAA B cut time of 1:42.36.
A&M went on to win four of the first seven races prior to the first diving break with Larson winning the 100 breast in 1:01.97 (NCAA B cut); freshman Camille Adams and junior Rita Medraño finishing 1-2 in the 200 butterfly with B cut times of 1:57.25 and 1:59.25, respectively; and Sommer winning the 50 freestyle in 23.09.
Georgia responded to A&M's challenge by winning eight of the meet's last nine events. The Aggies posted a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 fly with sophomore Kendra Chernoff (55.84) beating teammates Miller (55.96) and Medraño (56.07) to the wall.
Winning races against SMU were sophomore Maureen McLaine in the 1,000 free (10:06.62), senior Lindsey King in the 100 back (55.93), freshman Lili Ibañez in the 100 free (51.22), freshman Kim Pavlin in the 200 back (2:00.01), Larson in the 200 breast (2:15.92, NCAA B cut), freshman Sarah Henry in the 200 IM (2:03.29) and the 400 free relay of sophomore Christine Regone, freshman Wylie Escobedo, Miller and Pavlin (3:30.18).