Women’s swimming team wins Macalester Invite

On Saturday, the Macalester women’s swimming and diving team placed first in 10 out of 17 events at the Macalester Invitational. The Scots ended with a score of 412, allowing Macalester to handily win the eight-team meet for the second year in a row.

Kristin Meadows ’07 led the team with three victories, placing first in the 400-meter individual medley in 5 minutes and 44.03 seconds, the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:12.90 and the 200 butterfly in 2:41.89. Jackie DeLuca ’07 and Liz Fitzgerald ’04 both won a pair of events each. DeLuca won the 200-meter individual medley, clocking in at 2:38.58, and the 400 freestyle in 4:50.65. Fitzgerald also won the 1-meter diving event with a score of 208.55 and won the 3-meter with a meet record score of 238.35. Nancy Taff ’07 came in first in the 200-meter breaststroke at 2:56.90 and Heather Lendway ’06 placed first in the 800 freestyle with a meet record time of 9:43.57. DeLuca, Lendway, Taff and Meadows won the 400-meter freestyle relay in 4:20.46.

Meanwhile, the men came in third out of six teams with a score of 140, losing to St. Johns (589) and St. Thomas (265).
 

Men’s and Women’s basketball teams lose

The men’s and women’s basketball teams each dropped their last two games. The men lost a close non-conference with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 77-80 on Nov. 25. The Scots were outplayed in the paint, getting out-rebounded 34-24. However, guards Erik Jackson ’05 and Chris Assel ’05 combined for 39 points on 14-for-24 shooting. The pair also shot 7-for-13 from behind the arc. All-Conference forward Ben Van Thorre ’04 added 20 points in the losing effort. The Scots were denied victory by a tying three-pointer from River Falls substitute Jeff Holt with less than a minute left in the game. Rich Melzer, who finished with a game-high 33 points, drained four free-throws to seal the win.

The Scots lost another home game to Division II side the St. Cloud State Huskies on Wednesday night. The two sides ended the first half tied, but Macalester failed to keep up with the Huskies in the second half. After an Assel three-pointer gave the Scots the lead with 4:23, Macalester failed to score another field goal. Assel, Will Moeller ’05 and Adam Denny ’04 each scored 13 points, while Van Thorre added 12. Denny grabbed eight rebounds while Macalester Athlete of the Week Jackson contributed seven assists.

The Scots start their conference campaign tomorrow against Bethel and also host Augsburg on Monday.

The women lost their first two conference matches to tough opponents. Title contenders St. Benedict outclassed the Scots 75-36 on Nov. 25. On Wednesday, the Scots lost to St. Catherine 82-56. Afton Hanson ’04, who was held to only four points against St. Ben’s, broke out for 22 points and six rebounds.

The women visit Bethel on Saturday and meet Augsburg on Monday in Minneapolis.
 

Bomstad receives All-American Honorable Mention

The American Volleyball Coaches Association selected Carley Bomstad ’04 to receive NCAA Division III honorable mention All-American honors. Bomstad, a middle blocker, averaged 3.02 kills, 1.25 blocks and 3.34 digs per game, while serving a total of 27 aces this season. She finished her Macalester career as a .330 hitter and 1,103 kills and 412 blocks.