Feb. 25, 2012

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

In the first event of the morning session, Dominique Bouchard posted the top time of 1:54.53 in the 200 Back, advancing to the championship finals while Cassie Cunningham qualified eighth in 2:00.57. Brigette Selbert notched a time of 2:02.65 for eleventh in consolations.

In the 100 Free, Shara Stafford qualified second in 49.10, earning a spot in the championship finals. Junior Sydney Schaefer finished tenth in the event in 50.66 and freshman Emily Doucette notched a time of 50.94 for twelfth and senior Lisa Nathanson swam a 51.64 for thirteenth.

Three tigers qualified for the championship finals in the 200 yard Breaststroke. Emiy DiBenigno finished fifth in 2:13.88, while Rachel Ripley placed sixth in 2:13.90, followed by Amanda Masters in eight with a time of 2:15.71. Also in the 200 Breaststroke, freshmen Courtney Rhoedenbaugh and Danielle Spradlin qualified fourteenth and fifteenth respectively, with Rhodenbaugh posting a time of 2:20.52 and Spradlin recording a time of 2:20.81.

Freshman Tasha Truscott qualified tenth in the 200 yard Butterfly in 2:04.42 while sophomore Lexi Spivak qualified 16 for tonight.