ISU Edges TCU, 157-143, Wins Conference Opener

Friday, November 7

Fort Worth, Texas

6:00 PM

Iowa State

157

143

TCU

ISU Edges TCU, 157-143, Wins Conference Opener

11.07.2014 | Swimming and Diving

RESULTS

By: cyclones.com

FORT WORTH, Texas – In dramatic fashion, the Iowa State swimming and diving team (5-1, 1-0 Big 12) rallied to beat TCU (3-2, 0-2 Big 12), 157-143. Senior Amanda Paulson mounted a late comeback in the 400 freestyle relay to claim a win in the race and ultimately the meet.

"They had the lead for probably 385 yards until Amanda was able to catch their anchor swimmer and pull it out in the end," Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said. "The noise was pretty deafening. It was just an exciting college atmosphere."

The Horned Frogs got off to a fast start, taking five of the first seven events, leaving Iowa State in a significant deficit heading into the first diving break. After the 50 freestyle, however, the momentum shifted into ISU's favor.

"We were swimming well during the first half of the meet but not outstanding. TCU, to their credit, was really prepared for us and stepped it up," Sorenson said. "We had a talk after the 50 free, and I told them, 'We can take this on or roll over.' They decided to take it on."

A strong performance in the diving well by Iowa State proved vital for the win. Junior Elyse Brouillette took first-place on both the one and three-meter boards with scores of 306.97 and 303.46, respectively.

Brouillette's one-meter performance is a new career best for the team captain and a team-best score on the season.

"In my recent memory, this is one of our best Big 12 road meets for many reasons," head diving coach Jeff Warrick said. "We have gone to many meets when we knew it was going to be close, and underperformed. Tonight I was happy with how all of our divers did."

Sophomore diver Julie Dickinson took second-place on the three-meter board with score of 285.00, qualifying her for the NCAA Zone 5 diving meet.

Tonight's win over TCU was the first conference opener the Cyclone have won since the 2011-12 season. Iowa State will look to build on the momentum.

"When you get a win, especially a close one like this, you can't help but get excited," Warrick said. "We can use that to help us, but we can't rely on that only. We have to keep working."

On Deck

Next up for the Cyclones is the Kansas Invitational on Friday, Nov. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium in Lawrence, Kan. Iowa State took third-place at the event last year.