Feb. 24, 2012

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Seven members of the University of Missouri women's swimming and diving team advanced to the championship finals in Friday morning preliminary action of the 2012 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

The women opened Friday preliminaries with the 400 IM, where freshman Dani Spradlin finished eighth with a time of 4:26.33 to earn a spot in the championship finals Friday evening.

Senior Shara Stafford posted the morning's top time in the 200 free, 1:46.17, as she advanced to the championship finals. Additionally, senior Stephanie Rovig, junior Brigette Selbert, and junior Ashley Patterson made the consolation finals.

In the 100 breast, three different Tigers qualified for the evening's championship finals. Senior Emy DiBenigno led the way with a fifth place finish in 1:01.96, while junior Rachel Ripley finished seventh in a time of 1:02.06 and junior Amanda Masters was eighth with a time of 1:02.32. Junior Courtney Rhodenbaugh narrowly missed the championship finals as she finished ninth with a time of 1:02.32 to earn a spot in the consolation finals. Finally, Senior Lisa Nathanson qualified 16th in the event. The top four Tigers posted NCAA `B' times during the session.

Juniors Dominique Bouchard and Cassie Cunningham both earned spots in the 100 back championship finals with their morning swims. Bouchard finished second with a time of 53.13, while Cunningham came in fifth in 53.93. Both Tigers posted NCAA `B' times. Additionally, Selbert finished 11th and freshman Emily Doucette finished 13th in the event to advance on to the consolation finals.

In the 100 fly, the Tigers had a pair of swimmers make the consolation finals, as freshman Tasha Truscott swam a 55.48 to finish 13th and sophomore Lexi Spivak finished in 15th in a time of 55.96.

Friday finals action starts at 5 p.m. at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.