800 free relay takes home bronze on day one of NECs

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's swimming and team opened the 2016 Northeast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships with a bronze medal in the 800 free relay on Wednesday night at the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center in Cambridge, Mass.

The Bulldogs are tied with LIU Brooklyn and Saint Francis U. for third after the first two events of the meet. Bryant, LIU and SFU all have 60 points. Wagner and Central Connecticut, the last two champions, are tied for first with 74 points.

Bryant's quartet of Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico), Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.), Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.) and Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.) earned a bronze medal in the 800 free with a time of 7:35.79.

The Black and Gold also finished fifth in the 200 medley relay, posting a time of 1:45.00.

The NEC Championships continue in earnest on Thursday with preliminary heats beginning at 10:00 a.m. Finals heats will begin at 6:00 p.m.