Tigers fall short to Pioneers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2010) – The Occidental College women’s swim team put up some good swims this afternoon at Taylor Pool, but came up short, falling 108-78 to the Lewis & Clark Pioneers in non-conference action.

Danielle Garcia won the 200 yard Individual Medley and  100 breaststroke while Alena Morris was victorious in the 200 butterfly before the 200 free relay team of Morris, Sara Mendoza, Lauren Howarth and Garcia combined to earn the top spot with a time of 1:45.85, winning by more than four seconds.

Garcia took four seconds off her previous best time in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:20.87, which was also four seconds ahead of the second place finisher. She them went on to win the 100 breast in 1:13.19, three and a half seconds before second place.

Morris swam the 100 fly in 1:04.64 to win, while Audrey Akcasu placed third in 1:07.57. Morris placed second in the 200 free (2:08.24) with Mendoza right on her heels, touching the wall in third (2:08.33). Mendoza also came in second in the 500 free (5:47.18) ahead of teammate Mili Kale in 5:54.43 who placed third.

In the 50 free Howarth was second in 25.99, just five tenths of a second behind the winner, Rachel Cazden, from Lewis & Clark. Howarth again finished second to Cazden in the 100 free, finishing in 58.09.

Occidental gets back in the water on Friday when divers compete at the Rose Bowl as part of a meet with Whittier College. The Tigers and Poets will resume action on Saturday when SCIAC action begins at 11:00 a.m. in Taylor Pool.