NCAA Div. I Women: Texas A&M Takes Fifth Straight, Beats Rice

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 26. THE Texas A&M women's swimming team captured its fifth straight win with a 151-104 defeat of Rice University at Rice Pool on Saturday afternoon.

The combination of Clara Ho and the Aggies' fabulous freshman class proved to be just too much for A&M's fifth straight opponent. Even more impressive, the Aggies claimed the convincing win over Rice, which is currently receiving votes in the top 25 poll, without the services of its outstanding divers.

Ho cruised to first place times of 57.61 in the 100-yard butterfly and 2:04.32 in the 200 butterfly as well as swimming the third leg on A&M's winning 400 medley relay team. Ho teamed with freshmen Courtney Patterson, Kelsey Savage and Danielle Townsend to win the relay in 3:53.23.

Both freshmen, Townsend and Ashley Roark were double individual winners on Saturday. Roark, who has been on a tear all month, won the 100 backstroke in 58.20 and the 200 individual medley in 2:06.67. Townsend, who has been quite hot herself, earned another sweep of the sprint events, taking the 50 freestyle in 24.28 and the 100 freestyle in 52.22.

Other Aggies capturing wins against the Owls were freshman Christina Thompson who won the 200 backstroke in 2:05.62 and sophomore Kelli Deavenport who was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 1:54.72.

The freshman trio of Roark, Patterson and Thompson swept the top three spots in both backstroke events for the third time in four meets.

The foursome of Deavenport, Tiffany Moore, Dia Rose Gentile and Michelle Bird exhibitioned the 200 freestyle relay, but nevertheless won the race for A&M in 1:40.02.

The Aggies (7-4, 1-2) will host one last dual meet this season against ouston next Friday at 3:30 p.m. before preparing to host the 2002 Big 12 Championships slated for Feb. 20-23 at the Student Rec Center Natatorium.

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