Jan. 22, 2010

Complete Results |  Photo Gallery 

FORT WORTH, Texas – The TCU women’s swimming and diving teams snapped a four-meet losing streak Friday, upending Mountain West Conference for New Mexico by the score of 156-131 at the University Recreation Center Natatorium.

Junior Maria Paula Alvarez and sophomore Megan Higginbotham each earned a pair of individual victories. Alvarez, a native of Cali, Colombia, claimed the 200-free with a time of 1:54.35, just ahead of freshman Kristi Dena and sophomore Lindsey Stevens, who finished in second and third place, respectively. Alvarez also led the way in the 500-free at 5:08.86.

Higginbotham swept the breaststroke events, claiming the 100-breast at 1:08.45 before pacing the field in the 200-breast with a clocking of 2:26.03. The sophomore from Cumming, Ga., entered the meet with only one career victory, winning the 200-IM against Air Force last season.

Senior Jennifer Ferguson continued her dominance against the MWC from in the springboard events this season, winning the three-meter dive with a scorecard of 306.60 and taking runner-up honors from the one-meter dive (280.73). She has now earned wins in 11 of her 13 events this year, posting at least one victory in six of the Frogs’ eight meets.

Senior Stephanie Futscher picked up her sixth 200-fly win of the season, leading the lanes with a time of 2:06.08, while Oster claimed the 200-back at 2:06.21. Freshman Katie Scarsella snared her second 100-free in as many meets, crashing into the wall at 52.70.

Freshmen Ali Berry and Parris Schoppa picked up the first collegiate wins of their careers Friday. Berry, a Houston, Texas product, edged out sophomore Ashley Bolin in the 1000-free, turning in a time of 10:27.18. Schoppa had to stretch out in the last lane at 24.51 to top junior Nikki Pappas and Scarsella in the 50-free.

The TCU women's team will join forces with the men's squad on Jan. 30 for a road meet at Centenary College before wrapping up the regular season against UNLV on Feb. 6.