LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Nov. 2, 2019) –The Cowgirl swimming and diving team earned its fourth dual victory of the season with a 178-122 win over the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday
 
"The freshmen really highlighted the day today," head coach Dave Denniston said. "Olivia (Staver) won the 500 and 1,000 freestyle followed by Emily (Giles) with wins in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke which was key for us. In the boards, they did a fantastic job going one and two in each competition. Also, a big meet for our seniors especially Astrid (Iturbe) who swam three events including back to back events and Ellie Hohensinner had her top time in the 100 butterfly. We had a lot of good things all the way around."
 
The Cowgirls would waste no time getting started as they would take the first event of the day. The team of freshman Emily Giles, junior Hannah Mclean-Leonard, sophomores Phoebe Browne and Sani Carsrud would touch the wall first in the 200-yeard medley recording a time of 1:45.99.
 
Freshman Olivia Staver would win her first of two events in the 1,000 freestyle with a season-best 10:29.62. She would come away with a victory in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:11.16.
 
Giles also took home two first place finishes on the day. Giles won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.98 just shy of her season best. She followed that up with mark of 2:07.76 in the 200 IM.
 
Mclean-Leonard came away with the wins in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly. She recorded a season best time of 55.24 and a mark of 2:07.16. Sophomore Sani Carsrud had a second place finish in the 50 freestyle touching the wall in a time of 23.94.
 
Sophomore Lainee Jones brought home a win in the 200 freestyle with her time of 1:53.23 and had a third place finish in the 100 freestyle touching the wall in 53.37. Junior Katelyn Blattner earned points in the 200 backstroke with her time of 2:04.55 plus a second place spot in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:53.61.
 
Browne also shined in the meet with two victories on the day. She won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:22.76 and a 1:06.11 mark in the 100 breaststroke.
 
On the boards, the Cowgirls were very solid. In the 1-meter, they came away with points in the one, two and four spots. Redshirt junior Karla Contreras took first with a score of 258.08. Melissa Mirafuentes placed second with 250.80 followed by McKenna Houlihan with a mark of 218.25. Mirafuentes responded in the 3-meter with a first place finish with a score 283.28. Contreras finished with a score of 276.60 and Houlihan finished fourth with 221.03.
 
The Cowgirls will return to the pool next Friday against the Washington State Cougars and the Colorado State Rams. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. MT at Laramie High School.