BRYANT WOMEN SWIM PAST ST. FRANCIS (NY) BUT CAN’T SHAKE SIENA

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After putting forth a strong effort against Waterloo College on the team's mid-season training trip in Puerto Rico, the Bryant University women's swimming team tied Siena College 131.0-131.0 but beat St. Francis (NY) by a convincing 235.0-21.0 margin Saturday afternoon in the squad's first tri-meet of 2011.

Bryant's Lisa Zanchi (North Reading, Mass.) was named the Swimmer of the Meet on the women's side for her performance, marking the first time this season the Massachusetts native has been recognized for her efforts in the water.

Freshman standout Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) once again paced the Bulldogs, breaking her previous school record with a time of 1:54.50 in the 200-yard freestyle. The Colorado native would also shatter the 100-yard freestyle pool record with a time of a time of 53.39. DeBever also claimed the 500-yard freestyle event with a 5:12.16 mark.

Joining DeBever as top-finisher for Bryant was Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, Mass.). Ostrander paced the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 58.88 and 2:11.01 respectively. Ostrander, along with Molly Smith (Belmont, Mass.), Abby Whitaker (Salisbury, Mass.) and DeBever finished first in the 400-yard Medley Relay, winning the race by three tenths of a second.

Smith also registered a solid day for the Black and Gold, capturing first place in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:15.43, nearly four seconds faster than the opposition. She also won the 1000-yard freestyle with a 10:59.51 mark and finished second in the 200-yard breastroke with a time of 2:32.13.

The Bulldogs will face off against Northeast Conference foe Sacred Heart Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. in the Chace Center.