UW-Green Bay Edges UW-Milwaukee By One Point

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, February 3. THE University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team battled UW-Green Bay down to the wire on Saturday afternoon, falling to the two-time defending Horizon League champs by a single point, 122-121. Both teams had not lost since their season openers and brought long dual win streaks into the meet. Milwaukee (6-3) saw its streak get snapped at six, while the Phoenix (13-1) improved its to 13.

"I was very proud of the team today," UWM head coach Dave Griffore said. "They took the back-to-back league champs down to the last relay – actually the last 25 yards of the final relay – on the road, in their pool, on Senior Day … they never gave up."

Seniors Emily Duesler and Lindsay Caldwell each won twice, while sophomore Molly Finn and freshman Shannon Berndt also had individual wins for the Panthers. Additionally, the 400 medley relay team opened the meet with a winning pool-record performance.

"We came together as a team today," Griffore said. "When it comes down to just one point like that, it could have been anything. They did a great job and now we need to continue that into the end of the season."

Duesler claimed victories on both boards, winning the one-meter competition with 245.85 points and the three with a career-best and NCAA Zone qualifying 294.85 points. Senior Crystal Szymanski placed second in the three-meter event to give UWM the top two.

Caldwell extended her personal win streak in the 100 freestyle to nine-straight, winning in a time of 1:54.34. She added a win in the 200 as well, touching the wall in 52.16. Junior Jess Kelly was right behind, placing third in 54.15.
"Emily just had a great day on both boards and Lindsay just continues to turn in solid performance for us," Griffore said.

Caldwell was the anchor on that record-breaking relay squad, teaming with sophomore Kristina Hansen, Berndt and Finn in a season-best 3:55.21 to break the Dorschel Natatorium mark.

"That was just a great relay to watch," Griffore said. "It was a lot of fun to watch them compete and get behind each other."

Finn won the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:09.14, with junior Briana Fergusson giving UWM the top two in 2:13.76. Finn also took second in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:11.30. Berndt was just behind in third in 2:11.84.

Berndt won her specialty once again, topping the field in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:24.77.

Kelly nearly had a win of her own, getting touched out in the 50 free by UWGB's Kelsey Hausken. Kelly (24.66) lost by just two-hundredths (24.64). Hansen also had a close finish, taking second in the 200 backstroke.

UWM closes out the regular season at the Midwest Invitational Feb. 16-17.

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