Coming off the team’s recent 245-55 blowout victory over Central Connecticut State, the UConn women’s swim and dive team will get ready to close out their regular season at home against the Providence College Friars.
With the Big East Championship looming, the Huskies have been one of the hottest teams in the conference since their loss to Northeastern on Nov. 4. As winners of five of their last six meets, the program opened the 2023 campaign with commanding victories over Southern Connecticut State and Georgetown before losing to Villanova and Northeastern. Since their loss to Northeastern on Nov. 4, Connecticut has earned victories over Rhode Island, Bucknell, Vermont and Seton Hall before last week’s win over the Blue Devils.
In the victory over CCSU, the Huskies got off to a hot start with wins in the 200-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke to set the tone for the remainder of the race. As Connecticut boasted victories in the first 15 events of the meet, three of their swimmers broke pool records, including underclassman Ella Epes who posted a 54.46 in the 100-yard butterfly. Junior Maggie Donnelly set the second pool record in the 100-yard backstroke with a 54.48 stamp and graduate student Meghan Byrne set the pool record with a 2:03.73 time in the 200-yard individual medley.
The Friars roll into their final meet of the regular season hoping to bounce back from their 166-133 loss at the hands of the UMaine Black Bears on Jan. 27. The program opened its regular season with three consecutive losses against Fairfield, Iona and Bryant before a victory over Rhode Island on Nov. 8. Providence took sixth place (out of eight teams) in the Harold Anderson Invitational before two straight victories over Assumption College and Holy Cross.
One swimmer to keep an eye on from PC is emerging freshman Elizabeth Burke, who won multiple distance events in the Friars’ recent meet against UMaine. Burke, a native of Mendota Heights, Minn., stamped at 100:54.87 in the 1000-yard freestyle and a 5:16.76 in the 500-yard free, claiming first place in both events.
Connecticut will honor their seniors in their final race at Wolff-Zackin Natatorium before the first event, which is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. For coverage and results, visit uconnhuskies.com.