Rice, Abernethy take home weekly NEC honors

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University women's swimming and diving seniors Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) and Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) were both honored with Northeast Conference weekly awards on Tuesday.

Rice was named the NEC Co-Swimmer of the Week and Abernethy took home NEC Diver of the Week honors. Both were instrumental in Bryant winning the Gompei Invitational for the first time.

Rice totaled seven gold medals in leading Bryant to the team title at the Gompei Invitational, including a pair of individual victories in the 100 and 200 freestyles. She swam the 200 in 1:50.79 and finished her last individual event of the meet with a 51.11 in the 100 to give her two times that best all other NEC competitors this season. The Trumbull, CT product touched the wall second in the 50 free on day one of the three day meet, clocking in with a 23.75 time that ranks second in the Conference. Rice also flourished in the relays - similar to last season when she helped the Bulldogs sweep the relay events at the NEC Championships - taking home five golds in the 200 and 400 medley, and the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays.

Abernethy, a four-time NEC Diver of the Week, qualified for NCAA Zones in both diving competitions and set a school record with 280.25 points to finish first in the 3-meter at the Gompei Invitational. She also recorded the NEC's highest 1-meter diving score this season with a 269.10 at the event.

In addition, Alaina Scifo (Ipswich, Great Britain) and Elin Svärd (Falun, Sweden) were named NEC Prime Performers. Scifo won both backstroke events and Svard was a part of three relay victories and also won the 100 IM at the Gompei Invitational.