Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Falls at La Salle, 164-136
12/3/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Dec. 3, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Bucknell posted victories in each of the final three swimming events and outscored La Salle by 21 points in those races, but it was not enough to complete a comeback as the Bison women's swimming and diving team lost to the Explorers by a 164-136 margin Saturday afternoon. Bucknell fell to 3-2 on the season, while La Salle improved to 5-2.
Alex Panzarino's win in the 200 fly was the only victory for the Bison in the first 11 swimming events, but Kristen Purdy (100 fly), Elizabeth Porcellio (200 IM) and the 400 free relay of Emily Wright, Kaitlyn Utkewicz, Panzarino and Lauren Perry helped cut a nearly 50-point deficit to the final 28-point margin with three straight victories to close the meet.
The Bucknell divers had a strong meet as Katie Hetherington, Tori Molchany and Morgan Popple finished 2-3-4 off the one-meter board, while Tara Boyle and Hetherington claimed second and third off the higher three-meter. Molchany's 232.28 off the one-meter was a season best and it ranks eighth on the all-time list. Popple posted career bests off both boards. Additionally, Boyle's 247.65 runner-up score off the three-meter is No. 6 in program history.
While the Bison managed just four wins in the meet, they did have nine runner-up finishes in swimming events as Kelly Pontecorvo was second in the 500 and 1,000 free, Wright was second in the 50 and 100 free, and Porcellio added second-place showings in the 200 free and 200 breast to go along with her gold medal in the 200 IM. Porcellio's win in the 200 IM was by an impressive 3.10 seconds.
Bucknell will now be idle until Jan. 11 when it travels to Colgate for a 3 p.m. dual meet in Hamilton, N.Y.
