ITHACA, N.Y. – Competing in its final home meet of the season, the Cornell women's swimming and diving team celebrated Senior Day in the best way it knows how: by defeating Brown, 173-127, on Saturday at the Teagle Pool in Ithaca, N.Y. for its first Ivy League victory of the 2019-20 campaign.

The Big Red's victory over the Bears on Saturday snapped a five-meet win streak for Brown against Cornell, who posted its first win against the Bears since the 2013-14 campaign. The Big Red won 11 of the possible 16 events on Saturday en route to victory. The timing for Cornell to pick up an Ivy League win and build momentum is impeccable, as the next time the team will hit the water will be the 2020 Ivy League Championships on Feb. 19-22.

On their day of recognition for everything they have contributed to the Cornell women's swimming and diving program, seniors Laurel Kiselis, Cape Murch Elliot, and Vanessa Ruiz were faces to watch for the Big Red. Kiselis helped Cornell go 1-2 in the 200-yard freestyle, winning the event in 1:50.65, while also finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.97).

It was Ruiz that shined in the 50-yard freestyle, pacing a group of Big Red swimmers that swept the podium in the event. Ruiz was the first to touch the wall in 23.68, followed by Melissa Parker in second (23.78) and Kiselis in third.

Murch Elliot, along with Allison Chang, found success in the breaststroke events, as the senior tri-captain won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.57 and finished third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:24.65). Chang also excelled in both events, winning the 200-yard breaststroke (2:19.10) and finishing just behind Murch Elliot in second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.91).

Sophia Cherkez continued her strong junior campaign, recording a pair of victories in the 200-yard IM (2:05.59) and 500-yard freestyle (4:57.55). She notched a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle as well, completing the race in 1:51.30.

Cornell's 200-yard backstroke swimmers came out ready to go on Saturday, as Gillian Caverly and Alexandra Handlin both cracked the Big Red's all-time top-10 list. Caverly (2:01.85) and Handlin (2:02.35) finished second and third, respectively, with the eighth- and 10th-fastest times in Cornell women's swimming and diving history.

Maegan Rudolph made her presence known in the butterfly events, winning the 100-yard butterfly (56.13) and finishing second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.76). She was joined by good company in the 100-yard butterfly, as Lexi Schaaf placed second (56.15) to help Cornell go 1-2 in the event.

In the diving events, Demetra Williams and Elise Jendritz continue to feed off of each other en route to success. Williams emerged victorious in the 1-meter diving (251.92 points), while Jendritz got the "W" in the 3-meter diving (305.40 points). Williams followed up her win in the 1-meter with a second-place finish in the 3-meter (262.36 points). Jendritz also notched a third-place finish in the 1-meter (236.85 points).

Both of Cornell's relay teams solidified wins on Saturday as well. The 200-yard medley relay team made up of Isabel Chien, Murch Elliot, Schaaf, and Parker secured a win for the Big Red in the first event of the day, placing first in 1:44.61. The 400-yard freestyle relay composed of Chloe Mikles, Rudolph, Parker, and Kiselis then solidified the team victory for Cornell in the final event of the day, touching the wall first in 3:26.53.

The Cornell women's swimming and diving team will compete in what it's been training for all season when it hits the water next for the 2020 Ivy League Championships. Hosted by Brown, the championship meet will take place on Feb. 19-22 in Providence, R.I.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

100-yard Freestyle
3rd - Chloe Mikles (52.10)

1,000-yard Freestyle
T-3rd - Lavona Harper (10:26.66)
T-3rd - Taylor Knibb (10:26.66)

100-yard Backstroke
3rd - Aviva Muñoz (56.87)