Nov. 8, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming continues its home stand this weekend as it welcomes in a pair of BIG EAST foes in Pittsburgh and No. 19/22 Louisville for dual meets. The No. 18/20 Irish battle the Panthers at 5 p.m. Friday before playing host to the Cardinals at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Both dual meets will have the Irish men and women in action against the Panthers and Cardinals. Fans can follow all the action through live stats, with a link provided on UND.com.
The Irish are coming off a tough loss at home to No. 15/24 Purdue last Friday night, 152-148. Notre Dame won nine of the 16 events on the evening, but dropped both relay events, including a costly disqualification in the opening relay that put the squad in an early 13-4 hole.
Picking up individual wins for the Irish were Kim Holden (100 and 200 back, 100 fly), Emma Reaney (400 IM, 100 and 200 breast), Allison Casareto (1-meter, 3-meter) and Bridget Casey (200 fly).
For her efforts on the week, Holden was named BIG EAST Athlete of the Week for women’s swimming and diving. All three wins against the Boilermakers were in NCAA B-cut times, as she sits in the top-20 nationally and in the top-two in the BIG EAST in all three events.
Despite their 0-2 record in dual meets, the Irish have gotten off to a fast start both nationally and in the BIG EAST. Seven swimmers appear in the top-75 nationally in their respective event(s), including sophomore standout Emma Reaney, who is in the top-25 in four events, including in the top-11 in the 100 breast (6th, 1:01.20), 200 breast (9th, 2:13.04) and 200 IM (11th, 2:01.81).
In the BIG EAST, Irish swimmers lead the BIG EAST in six events. If the conference standings heading into this weekend represented all-BIG EAST honors, Notre Dame would bring home 14 individual all-BIG EAST scrolls not including diving or relays.
Pittsburgh (2-1) has wins over St. Bonaventure (240.5-56.5) and Cincinnati (181-119) and a 155-131 setback to Virginia already on its resume for the 2012-13 season.
Last year the Irish knocked off the Panthers, 185-115, at Trees Pool as Reaney won the 200 breast and 200 IM. Notre Dame won 13 of the 16 events on the afternoon.
The two-time defending BIG EAST champion Cardinals (1-1) knocked off Xavier (183-73) to open the season before falling to Tennessee (190-107) in Knoxville.
Last year the Cardinals bested the Irish in Louisville, 188-112, as the home squad won 10 of the 16 events. Reaney showed what was to come during her freshman year by winning the 100 and 200 breast and the 200 IM and swimming a leg of the winning 400 free relay team in the loss.
Following this weekend’s dual meets, the Irish head to Topeka, Kan., for the Kansas Women’s Classic next weekend.
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