Jan. 30, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's swimming and diving team is set for their fourth-straight weekend of competition this Saturday when the team travels to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes. The Tigers are looking for their third-consecutive victory after recording wins against Iowa State last weekend and Ohio State two Saturdays ago, and currently sit at 3-5 on the year. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT. Live results will be posted at http://stats.iowaswimming.com/.
Scouting Iowa
Iowa's women sit at 6-3 on the season, with a 2-3 record in Big 10 play. Iowa's three losses came at the hand of three ranked teams: No. 10 Minnesota, No. 16 Wisconsin and No. 22 Northwestern. Their wins have come against Truman State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Western Illinois and Illinois.
The team is lead by junior Christine Kuczek who became the team's first Big Ten Swimmer of the Week since 2006 earlier this month. In the well, junior Deidre Freeman and sophomore Veronica Rydze lead the divers.
Last Time They Met
Mizzou and Iowa faced off last season in a meet that the Tigers dominated from the get-go. Missouri, ranked No. 20 going into the meet, pounced on the Hawkeyes and came out victorious by a score of 156-86. The team took 10 of the 13 events. Senior Lauren Cox helped take first in the 200 medley, while also taking gold in the 200 IM. Sophomore Francie Szostak recorded the second-best 200 free time with her victory. Senior Kendra Melnychuk added two more wins to her career total, winning on both springboard events
Last Time Out
The Tiger women dominated conference foe Iowa State last weekend, spinning the Cyclones by a score of 178-117 on Senior Day. The team had two four-event winning streaks over the course of the meet, and got big victories by both "young" and "old" Tigers. Senior Lori Halvorson won the 200 back, while fellow senior Erin Yeager scored her first victory of the year, winning the 200 breast. Sophomore Francie Szostak claimed gold in the 100 back with the 10th-fastest time at Missouri. Freshman Jordan Morcom took gold on the 1-meter, while senior Kendra Melnychuk took the 3-meter title.
Coming Up Next
Unlike the men, the women still have one dual left on their schedule. Missouri will head to Lincoln, Neb., next Saturday for a Big 12 battle with the Huskers, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. Starting Feb. 13 through Feb. 16, numerous Missouri swimmers will compete in the Missouri Grand Prix. The team will return to action two weeks later with the Big 12 Championships.