Kansas City, MO – With the MSC Championships two weeks away, the Patriots women's swimming and diving team looks to continue their dominance as they hold strong being ranked third in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, announced by the national office Friday.  Cumberlands recorded 541.04 points for the second straight poll. 

UC has 18 times that rank in the top-16 of the NAIA, with three different swimmers that hold multiple top times. Leading the way for the Patriots are Maria Basto, Ali Pecore, Emma Lehmkuhl, and Hanne te Velthuis, who have posted multiple top marks across their respective sports.  Basto is having a career season so far as the only Patriot with multiple individual "A" cuts.  The sophomore broke the school record in the 100 back at the Union Invite as she went 57.28, which is ranked fourth in the NAIA.  Basto is also ranked fourth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:09.00 and fifth in the 200 back as she clocked a time of 5:03.21.

Pecore, the Oshkosh, WI native, holds a pair of top five ranking this season.  She touched the wall in 5:06.21 to achieve a NAIA "A" cut in the 500 free, while she is ranked second in the 200 free with a time of 1:54.43.

Lehmkuhl has been a standout on the boards for UC so far this season as she has achieved the NAIA cut on both one-meter and three-meter.  The freshman's best mark of 215.35 on one-meter came against Berry, while she tallied a 198.90 in the season-opener at Union on three-meter.

Te Velthuis has been one of Cumberlands most consistent performers with as she is ranked in scoring positions in all three sprint free events.  Her time of 1:54.88 in the 200 free is fourth-best, while she has swam 24.50 and 53.11 to be ranked 15^th and 12^th on the season.

Two other Patriots are sitting just outside the top ten as Anastasiia Shatalova is ranked 11^th in the 100 free (53.04) and Isabella Cooksey is ranked 12^th in the 400 IM with a mark of 4:43.14.

Cumberlands has four relays that are ranked in the top-five of the NAIA, including holding the third fastest time in three different relays.  UC's 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 200 medley relay are currently ranked third, while their 800 free relay is ranked fourth.  In addition to those national ranking UC also holds the fastest time in the MSC in four of the five relays.

Keiser earned 621.84 points to be ranked atop the poll, while Olivet Nazarene is ranked second with 541.39. UC is the highest of four Mid-South Conference schools to be ranked in the poll.

Cumberlands will look to close out their season undefeated in dual meets as they host fifth-ranked Milligan Saturday, January 21, at noon in the Patriots Aquatic Center.  Live video of the meet is available here.

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