EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Women's Swimming and Diving battled, but fell just short in their home finale against the University of Evansville, 159-135, Saturday afternoon at the USI Aquatic Center.
 
Before the meet, USI celebrated the 2026 graduating class for their contributions to the program. The athletes honored included seniors Sarah-Catherine Dawson, Emma Ettensohn, Makana Goss, Abbi Hendren, Isabella Lindbergh, Ana Phipps, Heidi Rhodenbaugh, Mattilyn Smith, Autumn Turley, and Erica Williamson, in addition to juniors Hayden Shurtz and Naomi Weaver.
 
The Screaming Eagles picked up six heat victories during the event. Smith finished atop the podium in both the 500 and 1000 freestyle, recording a 5:16.35 and 10:40.90. The senior nabbed a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle, and she was a member of the second-place 400 freestyle relay team with freshman Hannah Pryor, freshman Audrey Kalvaitis, and sophomore Emma Gabhart.
 
USI picked up its last two swimming victories with Gabhart in the 200 individual medley (2:08.41) and Weaver coming out on top in the 200 butterfly with a 2:17.68 time.
 
The Eagles divers swept the day, recording the top four finishes in both the one and three meter events. Sophomore Anna Bunnell topped the leaderboard in both events, tallying a 257.18 one-meter and 261.23 three-meter performance. Junior Maranda Uttke finished second in the one-meter (235.95) and third in the three-meter (219.53), mirroring sophomore Gabbie Meier, who finished third in the one-meter (220.35) and second in the three-meter (233.10).
 
USI diving will be back in action on February 7 at the University of Illinois Chicago Diving Invitational in Chicago, Illinois. The entire team will return to the pool at the Summit League Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, from February 18 through February 21.