FINAL SCORE: Vermont 154, Rhode Island 143
KINGSTON, R.I. – Senior Kira Hancock won both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle on Saturday afternoon against Rhode Island, leading Vermont to an 11-point victory over the Rams at the Tootell Aquatic Center.
 
The Catamounts claimed their fourth straight win over URI and improved to 6-4 (3-2 AE) heading into the 2018 America East Championships next month in Worcester.
 
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Final Results
 
Hancock swam times of 24.36 and 52.85 seconds to sweep the 50 and 100 free, while teammate Sierra Sexton (24.55, 53.36) took second in both events behind the senior tri-captain.
 
Hancock also helped Vermont open the meet by winning the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:47.26 with Jess Gorham, Shannon Cowley, and Dani Rocheleau.
 
UVM won three other individual events on Saturday. Kristina Posnick claimed the 1000 freestyle by more than five seconds as she stopped the clock in 10:48.66. Posnick was a close second in the 500 free behind senior Kelly Lennon, who touched the wall just three-tenths of a second faster (5:16.06). Gorham also clinched the 200 IM for the Cats with a time of 2:13.66, followed by Posnick in second (2:15.47).

Also earning second place times against URI were Cowley in the 100 (1:05.79) and 200 breaststroke (2:25.97), Rocheleau in the 100 (58.83) and 200 backstroke (2:07.52), Lennon in the 200 free (1:56.37), Vivian Nguyen in the 100 butterfly (59.09), and Julia DeGregorio in the 200 fly (2:12.20).
 
Ashley Branagan led the UVM divers in Kingston, posting a score of 200.85 in the 3-meter event for second overall. America East Diver of the Week Emily Murphy took fourth in the 1-meter dive with a mark of 213.90.

Vermont will take the next month to prepare for the 2018 America East Championships, which will be contested Feb. 15-18 at WPI in Worcester, Massachusetts. Live video of all four days of the competition will be available for free at AmericaEast.TV. 

Speeder & Earl's Coffee is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's swimming & diving season