ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell sailing team took control early Sunday and never relinquished its lead, capturing its first MAISA Spring Women's Championship and the accompanying bid to fleet race nationals by topping the field on Cayuga Lake. The Big Red 's 88 team points were 10 clear of second-place Penn in what turned into a two-team race.

The Big Red surpassed the Quakers, who led 38-40 after day one, in the first race on Sunday and never looked back, claiming five individual race wins in 15 starts with eight total top two efforts. Cornell's lead was 16 points after the ninth rotation, though the Quakers got back to within three after A division's 12th race of the weekend. Cornell built its lead back to double figures with its B division fifth-place effort and was able to hold off the Quakers for the win.

Georgetown (133), St. Mary's (Md.) (148) and Navy (150) rounded out the top five. Penn also earned an automatic bid to nationals with its finish.

Senior Brooke Shachoy, one of three skippers to earn All-MAISA honors from the Big Red, was named conference Sailor of the Year after directing A division to second place overall. Gabbi DelBello (races 1-7,9-12) and Sophia Fogarty (races 8, 13-14) made up the crew. Their 48 team points included three race victories and seven finishes among the top two boats. In B division, Bridget Green (races 1-6,9-12) and Lillian Myers (races 7-8, 13-14) skippered Cornell to victory with Amelia Neumann in the crew seat. Together, the threesome accumulated 40 points with five race wins and nine total top three efforts.

Shachoy was joined on the All-MAISA first-team skipper squad by Green, while Myers was a second-team choice.

Cornell will compete at Women's Team Race Nationals this coming weekend at Brown, as well as at the Kings Point Admiral's Cup.