SALEM, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University Women's Swimming team overcame a deficit as a team, winning the final nine races to knock off the Willamette Bearcats, 114-91 on the road.
 
As the Bearcats took the opening 400-yard Medley Relay, freshmen Scout Hawkins and Ellie Cutting responded with the top-two finishes in the 800-yard Freestyle. Hawkins cruised past the field with a time of 9:20.35, beating out Cutting by over 20-seconds.
 
Later, Karina Yevstifieieva earned her first collegiate win of her career in the 50-yard freestyle, beating out Willamette by four-tenths of a second. The freshman ran a time of 26.22 to earn her the victory and keep the Lutes close with the Bearcats.
 
Riley Maher took over in the 100-yard IM and the 150-yard Butterfly in consecutive races, winning both events by over a two-second margin and giving the Lutes the team lead. Yevstifieieva competed next in the 100-yard Freestyle and defended her earlier title, as she won the longer race with yet another close finish and a time of 57.34-seconds.
 
Emma Gassman earned a win of her own in the 150-yard Backstroke after a time of 1:39.00 cleared the field and continued the Lutes string of wins. Hawkins then went back-to-back for PLU, earning a pair of wins in the 400-yard Freestyle and the 150-yard Breaststroke, showing off her versatility in her first year as a Lute. Hawkins pair of wins locked up the team score, and clinched the victory for the Lutes late in the afternoon.
 
But to make a great night even better, the team of Yevstifieieva, Lola Chargualaf, Maher, and Gassman closed out the dual meet with the Lutes ninth event win of the day with a time of 3:48.95 in the 400-yard Freestyle Relay. Melissa Zuniga, Anna Haneda, Jessica Lee, and Matthea Gaines added two final points for PLU, as they also finished third in the race.
 
With a 114-91 victory on Saturday, the Lutes Women's Swimming team earned their first win early in the Northwest Conference season, with many great times coming from the freshman class.
 
The Lutes will continue their early season road trip next Saturday in Oregon, as they take on the Pacific Boxers at 1 p.m. in Forest Grove, Oregon.
 
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