Wildcats Win 152-147 Senior Day Thriller Over UConn

Saturday, January 20

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

152

147

UConn

Seniors Hannah Weatherby, Abby McKinney and Hannah Devine.

Photo by: Michelle Bronner

1/20/2024 10:58:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

‘Cats set pool record in the 200 free relay to clinch the win.

By: UNH Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. – With the meet tied at 141-141 going into the final event, the Wildcats clinched the win with a pool record in the 200 free relay as the University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team defeated Big East opponent Connecticut, 152-147, in a thriller on Senior Day at Swasey Pool.

The Wildcats, who won 11 of the 16 events, improve to 5-1 on the season, while the Huskies fall to 6-3. UNH is now 2-1 versus UConn over the last three meetings which included a 158-142 win on Jan. 22, 2022 at Swasey Pool.

The 200 free relay team of Audrey Mahoney (Downers Grove, Ill.), junior captain Chiara Maria Pradissitto (Milan, Italy), junior Annie Jencova (Waikanae, New Zealand) and senior captain Abby McKinney (Westfield, N.J.) broke their own pool record with a time of 1:35.35. This team previously set the record with a time of 1:35.47 versus Central Connecticut earlier this season on Oct. 27.

Sophomore Ella Guilfoil (Fairport, N.Y.) won three events, while Mahoney took two. Freshman Emily Wright (Ventura, Calif.), Pradissitto, senior Hannah Devine (Hamilton, N.J.) and McKinney each won one event.

Devine, McKinney and Hannah Weatherby (Newtown, Conn.) were honored in a Senior Day ceremony before the meet for their hard work and dedication to the program.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats return to action at Maine on Friday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. for the Border Battle presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.

MEET INFO:
Score: New Hampshire 152, Connecticut 147
Location: Durham, N.H. (Swasey Pool)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024
Records: UNH 5-1, UConn 6-3

RESULTS

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The 400 medley relay team of Guilfoil, Wright, Pradissitto and McKinney gave the Wildcats an early 11-6 lead by taking the event with a winning time of 3:50.96.
The 'Cats then won three straight individual events as Devine placed first in the 1000 free (10:29.26), McKinney took the 200 free (1:53.78) and Guilfoil captured the 100 back (56.84). UNH moved out to a 44-29 lead after the first four events.
The Huskies then won the 100 breast and 200 fly to cut the UNH lead to 57-54.
But Mahoney placed first in the 50 free (23.81) and UNH increased its lead to 69-61.
UConn took a 75-74 advantage after eight events, but wins by Mahoney in the 100 free (52.43), Guilfoil in the 200 back (2:00.91) and Wright in the 200 breast (2:24.40) gave the 'Cats a 108-98 lead after 11 events.
With UNH now leading 116-109 after the 500 free, the 'Cats took 12 points from the 100 fly led by the first-place finish of Pradissitto (56.98) to move out to a 128-116 lead.
With the Huskies now leading 132-131 after 14 events, the meet was tied at 141-141 when UNH tallied 10 points from the 400 IM including a win by Guilfoil (4:27.56).
The 200 free relay team then gave the 'Cats the 152-147 win with its stellar pool record setting time of 1:35.35.