LANCASTER, Pa. (Nov. 21) - The Saint Vincent women's swimming team closed the three-day Franklin and Marshall Invitational with 564 points to in seventh place in a strong 11-team field comprised of both NCAA Division-II and III squads. 

To kick off the final day, Lauren Connors matched her entry time in the 200 backstroke (2.13.25), claiming a lane in the B finals, where she lowered her time to a season best of 2:09.67.

Junior Erica Steele and freshman Abby Leskovansky led the Bearcats in the 100 freestyle, claiming two finals berths. Steele swam a season best 54.82 in prelims, a time that earned her 16th place and a lane in the B final. She went on to win the B final with a 53.55.

Leskovansky swam a season-best of 55.48 in prelims, securing a spot in the C final, where she lowered her time to a 54.55.

In the 200 breaststroke, Sara Basala led the way with a season best of 2:35.87, a time that earned her 19th place and a lane in the C final. Basala went on to lower her time to a 2:34.17 in finals.

Katie Kozy took 20th in the 200 butterfly with a season best of 2:19.48, a time that earned her a berth in the C finals, where she swam a 2:22.86.

Freshman Sarah Alexander took 6th in the timed finals for the 1650 freestyle with a 18:31.64. Lauren Krecota followed behind with a 19:34.06 that earned her 14^th place.

In the final event of the invitational, Lauren Connors, Cara Luallen, Leskovansky and Steele joined forces to take sixth in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:36.98.

In all, over the three-day meet, the Bearcat women qualified at least one swimmer for the finals in each event. 

The team is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 4, traveling to Presidents' Athletic Conference rival Washington & Jefferson for a 1 p.m. meet.