Women's Swimming Torches Panthers in Road Meet

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The No. 15 University of Tampa women's swimming team outdueled Florida Tech on the road, Saturday.  The Spartans won by a decisive 140-60 final score to claim the road meet over teh Panthers.

Freshman Makayla Ayers swept the distance events while Victoria Horsman and Marisa Barton each added a pair of wins.

The Spartans kicked off the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay, as Catherine Bayes, Page Fox, Horsman and Amanda Fernandes combined for a top time of 1:53.17.  Ayers followed up with an individual win in the 1000 yard freestyle, touching the wall after 10:49.52 minutes.

Sophomore Sophie Long continued the winning ways for Tampa, besting the opposition in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:59.72.

Florida Tech took its first event of the meet, as Lauren Suarez won the 50 free in 24.45 seconds. The Panthers pulled closer with a win in the 400 individual medley before Spartan freshman Horsman claimed the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:00.10.

Barton battled to a victory in the 100 free after touching the wall in 54.07 seconds.  Ayers won the 500 freestyle with a top time of 5:20.90 before Ali Lombardi took the final individual event of the meet, winning the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:10.28.

UT finished off the meet by winning the 200 yard freestyle relay behind the combined performance of Barton, Fernandes, Long and Allison Hutchins, touching the wall after 1:38.96 to win by a decisive 140-60 over the hosts.

Tampa will conclude the regular season with a road meet in St. Leo, Fla., battling the Lions on January 30 at 3 p.m.

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