Senior Alexis Morehouse (Vancouver, Wash.) was a double-winner Saturday afternoon as the Seattle University women's swim team fell to Oregon State, 188-74, in a dual meet at the Dixon Recreation Center.
Morehouse led a 1-2-3 finish for the Redhawks in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall first with a time of 1:04.98. Kevlyn Richards (Gig Harbor, Wash.) finished second with a time of 1:06.39, followed by Karla Ruff (Seattle, Wash.) in third place in 1:09.60.
It was a 1-2 finish for Seattle U in the 200 breaststroke, with Morehouse cruising to the victory in a time of 2:20.00 and Richards finishing second with a time of 2:24.94. Morehouse also participated in the 200 medley relay, joining Tina Nguyen (Hillsboro, Ore.), Megan Kelley (Las Vegas, Nev.), and Nicole Doi (Pleasanton, Calif.) for a third place finish in that event in 4:04.57, just 14/100ths of a second behind second place.
In one of the closest races of the afternoon, Ruff finished second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:12.63, only 21/100ths of a second away from first place. Rachel Leighter (Eugene, Ore.) also picked up a second-place finish in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:10.43, 33/100ths of a second faster than the third place swimmer from Oregon State.
Casey Hoffman (Federal Way, Wash.) posted a personal best in the 1000 freestyle, finishing third with a time of 10:49.38. Hanna Basler (El Cajon, Calif.) finished third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:57.62, just 16/100ths of a second behind second place.
Doi picked up a fourth place finish in the 50 freestyle (25.61), followed by a third place finish in the 100 freestyle (55.26), and Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.) finished third in the 500 freestyle in 5:17.43. Basler, Doi, Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.), and Nguyen wrapped up the meet with a second place finish in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:41.47.
"We were in a bunch of close races today, and I am happy with how the team is continuing to progress," head coach Craig Nisgor said. "The swimmers are gaining confidence in their abilities, but now we need to continue working on teaching them the best ways to approach these races so that they can come out on top in the future."
The Seattle University women's swim team will head to Stockton, Calif., next weekend for back-to-back meets at Pacific Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Fresno State, Cal State Bakersfield, and Air Force will also take part in at least one of the weekend contests.
