Ball State Outlasts Falcons in Muncie, 167-127

Saturday, October 29

Muncie, Ind.

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

127

167

Ball State

Photo by: BGSU Photography

October 29, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communications Intern

MEET RESULTS (.html)

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Despite featuring six different individual event winners, the Bowling Green State University swimming team could not overcome a late surge by Ball State as the Cardinals defeated the Falcons, 167-127, in a dual meet held in Muncie, Ind. on Saturday (Oct. 29).

Falcon junior Emily Bennet continued her early-season success by winning both of her individual events. In the 100-yard freestyle, Bennet defeated BSU's Jillian Bischoff by 0.38 seconds after a winning time of 0:53.40. She also defeated Bischoff in the 200 free. That race was also a nail-biter, as Bennet's time (1:55.47) was just a half-second better than Bischoff's.

In what could be described as the main event of the meet, BGSU's Alexis Kain split the two breaststroke events with the Cardinals' Bridgette Ruehl. Kain and Ruehl were named Mid-American Conference Co-Swimmers of the Week on Thursday.

Kain won the 100-yard breaststroke in the closest race of the day. Kain swam the distance in 1:06.52 and edged Ruehl by 0.14 seconds. Ruehl got a measure of revenge in the 200-yard event as Kain finished second in 2:25.00.

Senior Amanda Rom placed third in both breaststroke races.

Falcons' freshman Erica Nieminen posted her first career victory and BGSU's first win of the day in the 1000 freestyle. Nieminen's winning time was 10:45.92, as she won by nearly seven seconds. The closest Cardinal swimmer was 15 seconds back.

Another Falcon senior, Vicky Yu, won the 200 butterfly. Yu captured the event with a mark of 2:06.02. Megan Bomicino placed fourth to also score points for BGSU in the event.

Alexa Harris (200 backstroke) and Emily Waller (500 freestyle) also won events for the Orange and Brown. Waller's win brought the Falcons to within seven points with four events to go (115-108).

In the relays, the Falcons won in the 200 free and finished second in the 200 medley. Bennet and Nieminen combined with Brittany Szekely and Sarah Reinink to win the 200 free in 1:36.98. Bennet and Reinink raced with Yu and Kain in the day's initial race, the 200 medley relay. The group placed second and finished in 1:48.05.

The loss drops BGSU's record to 2-2 (0-2, MAC).

Head coach Petra Martin said, "I believe that the girls are moving in the right direction. We knew this weekend would be tough, but we attacked in well. We had some very good races on Friday and talked about how to race better and how everyone needs to step up."

The Falcons lost to defending-MAC-champion Ohio on Friday night prior to traveling to Muncie for Saturday's meet.

Martin said, "The team responded really well on Saturday. We fought well and won a lot of close races. I really think we got a lot out of this weekend. We learned a lot and responded well, and that's exactly what we were looking for. I am confident that we will be much better prepared for back-to-back racing in February after experiences like this."

Bowling Green's next meet is Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1:00 p.m. against Eastern Michigan. The event will take place at BGSU's Cooper Natatorium. The Falcons conclude the fall's dual meet schedule two weeks later in Akron.