Freshmen Shine As UConn Defeats DII Southern Connecticut State Women

University of Connecticut vs. Southern Connecticut State (women)

  • December 4, 2021
  • Wolff-Zackin Natatorium, Storrs, Conn.
  • SCY
  • Results
    • UConn def. SCSU 157-122 (exhibition aided)

The University of Connecticut, a Division I program, came out on top in a lopsided matchup with the Division II Southern Connecticut State women’s program Saturday, ultimately winning 157-122 (exhibition aided).

UConn opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay by nearly 5 seconds. Kayla Mendonca led off in 27.58, Angela Gambardella went 29.65, Charlotte Proceller was 25.06 and Linnea Anderson anchored in 24.12 for a 1:46.41. UConn’s B team was its fastest relay at 1:51.30.

Freshman Amelia Schaefer got UConn’s first individual win of the day in the 1000-yard free, taking the win in 10:58.79, 10 seconds ahead of SCSU second-place finisher Lindsay McCawley (11:08.44).

UConn then swept the 200 free, led by freshman Maggie Donlevy at 1:58.65. Sophomore teammate Kayla Mendonca was the only other swimmer under 2:00, finishing just behind Donlevy at 1:58.95.

The meet, unlike traditional college dual meet lineups, included the 50 back, breast and fly.

The Huskies swept the 50 back with junior Caitlin Spencer leading the way at 27.39. They took the top two spots in the 50 breast, led by Angela Gambardella at 30.04.

The next sweep came in the 100 fly, where junior Anna Wenman secured her first collegiate win with a 58.17. Freshman Charlotte Proceller also led a sweep for the Huskies in the 50 free at 24.67.

SCSU’s first win was in diving, although it was exhibition-aided, when junior Nicholle Denault posted a 217.88. But it was UConn freshman Julia Pioso with the highest score overall at 279.60, a personal best, and secured her zones qualification.

SCSU got its lone swimming win in the 500 free, where freshman Natalie Weier posted a 5:20.83, a best time by a second-and-a-half. She finished nearly three seconds ahead of UConn senior Lena Redisch.

UConn exhibitioned its remaining events. Other top times:

  • Senior Linnea Anderson had the fastest time in the 50 fly by nearly 2 seconds at 27.57.
  • Sophomore Niamh Hofland put up the top mark in the 100 IM at 1:00.33.
  • UConn’s Grace Ali (25.37), Katie Lightle (26.04), Molly Franklin (25.78) and Stefanie Mendizabal (24.65) combined for the fastest time in the 200 free relay at 1:41.84

UConn returns to racing on January 14 on the road against Rhode Island, while SCSU faces Yale at home on Dec. 9.

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About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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