PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Franciscan women's swimming and diving team had a strong overall last meet before the AMCC championships as it was able to tie Penn St.-Altoona in a dual-double at Chatham University.

The Lady Barons tied Altoona at 129 points while losing to Chatham 179-94.

"Overall, it was a really good meet to end on, as our last meet before championships," Head Coach Kateri Lang said. "Everyone seemed really excited and positive with their times and how the meet went. It was a really high note to end their hard work before championships."

While Lang noted that it was a strong meet for the entire team overall, with most girls swimming a full meet, she was particularly impressed by the times posted by sophomore Naomi Sebastian.

Sebastian took second in the 50 breaststroke, dropping a lot of time off her personal best for that particular event, and also placed third in the 100 breaststroke.

The Lady Barons as a team continued to be led by senior captain Maria Giuliani and freshman Elizabeth McNulty. McNulty was able to take both of her butterfly events, remaining undefeated in butterfly events, while Giuliani placed first and second in the 100 and 200 freestyles, respectively.

Junior diver Kelli Rankin was also able to give the Lady Barons a boost, placing third in the 1-meter dive and swimming and placing fourth in the 50 backstroke event.

"It was awesome that she just takes one for the team and swims for us too, even though diving is exhausting," Lang said of the defending AMCC Diver of the Year.

Even throughout the meet, the AMCC championships were on the Lady Barons minds, as a few girls participated in exhibition swims, on top of a full meet, in order to post a qualifying time to be able to compete.

Lang said that the team will begin tapering their workouts in preparation for the championships, giving the girls a chance to rest before swimming their hearts out in the biggest meet of the year.

The AMCC championships will take place beginning on February 11 at Grove City College.