Results

INDIANAPOLIS – After a month break from competition, the IUPUI women’s swimming and diving team earned a tight win over Xavier, but fell to Marshall and Ball State Friday evening at the IU Natatorium.

“We had some good races in spots, but being physically worn down makes it tough to perform at a high level,” said head coach Matt Bos. “However, every team is in the same situation right now and tonight these teams were mentally tougher than we were. We need to come back with a different mindset tomorrow to set the tone for our upcoming training.”

In the first individual event of the evening, Brittany Broyer earned a fifth-place finish in 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:51.94, equaling the 10th-best time in program history.

Alexus Laird scored the first win of the evening for the women’s team in the 100 back. The sophomore swam the four-lengths in a time of 58.52 to claim the victory by .33 seconds over Ball State’s Katelyn Pratt.

Jennifer Oleksiak followed Laird in the 100 breast and although she did not pick up the victory, she set a new school record in the event at 1:06.91 en route to a third-place finish.

Following a break, Laird returned for the 200 back and earned her second victory of the evening besting the field with a time of 2:07.13.

For IUPUI, Mercedez Bray and Elizabeth Bourgeois each added third place finishes in the 200 breaststroke and 100 fly, respectively. Bray clocked in at 2:26.84, while Bourgeois timed in at 58.88.

To close out the meet, the quartet of Bourgeois, Margaret Barber, Madison Taylor and Oleksiak placed second in the 200 freestyle relay at 1:39.18.

In diving action, Jessica Collins claimed a pair of third-place showings in both the one- and three-meter dives.

The Jags are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they host Marshall, Saint Louis, and Western Illinois at the IU Natatorium.  The meet is set for 2 p.m. and the women’s team will be honoring its lone senior in Bourgeois as part of Senior Day.