MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris women's swimming & diving team kicked off the weekend with a 152-57 victory over Hamline University. The nine first place finishes for the Cougars came in their last weekend of competition leading into the Liberal Arts Championships. 

The first place finishes kicked off for Minnesota Morris in the 1000 yard freestyle. Natalie West swam a time of 12:21.83 to score nine points for the Cougars. The trio of Lilly Radintz (2:05.09), Samantha Haaf (2:16.66), and Rita Erickson (2:17.07) kept the momentum going with top three finishes in the 200 yard freestyle. Shannon Dougherty and Faith Hamm dominated the 50 yard freestyle, posting times of 26.46 and 27.26 respectively. Brynna York came away from one meter diving with a first place finish and a score of 192.10 on the night. 

Samantha Haaf (1st) and Brynn Saarion (2nd) swam times of 1:53.68 and 2:20.55 in the 200 yard butterfly to jump start the second half of the meet. Radintz and Hamm continued to post impressive numbers for the Cougars with first and second place finishes in the 100 yard freestyle. The duo swam times of 56.58 and 59.38 respectively. Minnesota Morris had four swimmers in the top four of the 200 yard backstroke; Kennedy Olson (2:34.65), Natalie West (2:38.27), Lucia Rainbow (2:49.43), and Morgan Ball (2:65.94). McKenna Falak posted a time of 5:41.94 in the 500 yard freestyle to finish first, closely followed by teammate Rita Erickson who finished with a time of 6:04.61. Women's swimming & diving wrapped up the night with a first place finish in the 200 yard freestyle from the team of Eve Zimmerman, Falak, Olson, and Dougherty who swam a collective time of 1:47.35. 

The Cougars will look to capitalize on their success at Morningside College tomorrow (Jan. 17) at 1pm.