CARBONDALE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Swimming & Diving picked up an incredible 43 bests while competing at the A3 Performance Invitational, including 27 season bests and 16 personal bests. The Screaming Eagles would finish fifth overall on the weekend with a score of 245. Finishing behind Southern Illinois University, the University of Evansville, Eastern Illinois University, and Bellarmine University. USI did finish above Valparaiso University who finished in sixth.
 
The Eagles would also set new school records in 18 different events on the weekend, including two new events.
 
USI would also collect 12 top-10 finishes along with two top-five finishes. Freshman Mattilynn Smith (Morgantown, Kentucky) was the lone Eagle to take a top-five spot in an individual event, as she finished fifth in the 1650-Yard Freestyle with a time of 17.52.96, a personal best. USI would also take fifth place in the 400-Yard Medley Relay.
 
Smith led the way for the Eagles in personal bests, finishing with three personal bests after the weekend was over. She earned new bests in the 500-Yard Freestyle, the 200-Yard Freestyle, and the 1650-Yard Freestyle. Freshmen Elizabeth Busby (Madison, Alabama), Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky), Emma Ettensohn (Tell City, Indiana), and Paige Maddox (Columbus, Indiana) all finished with multiple personal bests alongside Smith. Sophomore Jordan Ambrose (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) along with freshmen Kate Hilgarth (Indianapolis, Indiana), Brooke Meek (Columbus, Indiana), Joey Testa (North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania), and Lily Tyler (Leesburg, Indiana) all recorded personal bests on the weekend.
 
Freshmen Hannah Gardner (Bowling Green, Kentucky), Makana Goss (Noblesville, Indiana), Heidi Rhodenbaugh (Lebanon, Ohio), and Erica Williamson (Knoxville, Tennessee) all led USI with three season bests each.
 
Other Top Women's Results:
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1:41.83 (6th) – Hilgarth, freshman Emily McIntosh (Huntertown, Indiana), Ettensohn, Testa
500-Yard Freestyle: 5:12.60 (Personal Best) (11th) - Smith
1-meter Diving: 140.55 points (8th) – Autumn Turley (Hobart, Indiana)
400-Yard Medley Relay: 4:01.32 (5th) – Hilgarth, Gardner, Dawson, Tyler
200-Yard Medley Relay: 1:51.19 (6th) – Hilgarth, Gardner, Dawson, McIntosh
200-Yard Freestyle: 1:57.08 (Personal Best) (7th) - Smith
100-Yard Backstroke: 59.08 (7th) - Hilgarth
3-meter Diving: 153.35 points (8th) – Turley
800-Yard Freestyle Relay: 8:11.48 (6th) – Smith, Tyler, McIntosh, Sophomore Adele Schnautz (Evansville, Indiana)
1650-Yard Freestyle: 17:52.96 (Personal Best) (5th) – Smith, 18:55.49 (Personal Best) (10th) – Tyler
200-Yard Backstroke: 2:11.13 (Personal Best (14th) - Hilgarth
200-Yard Butterfly: 2:11.65 (8th) - Dawson
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: 3:43.61 (6th) – Smith, Hilgarth, Tyler, McIntosh
 
UP NEXT FOR USI:
The Eagles have a long break before there next meet on January 6, as they travel to Cleveland, Ohio to compete against Cleveland State University.