Michelle Howell successfully defended her title in the 400 individual medley headlining the Big Red's second night at the 2014 NCAC Swimming & Diving Championship.  Through 13 of 20 events, Denison is locked in a battle with first-place Kenyon heading into Saturday night's finale.  DU has totaled 1,208 points and trails Kenyon by 26 points.

Howell led a group of four swimmers that finished in the top-10 in the standings of the 400 IM.  Her time of 4:24 ran Denison's streak of victories in the event to five years running.  Checking in as the runner-up was Taylor Johns who picked up her first all-conference award in the event.  Sixth-place went to Libby Dalziel (4:30.95) while Lucy Roth finished 10^th in 4:36.34.

The Big Red finished second in both relays as Ashley Yearwood, Marissa Bednarek, Krysta Garbarino, and Morgan Nuess completed the 200 medley relay in 1:43.26.

In the 800 freestyle Johns, Campbell Costley, Mary Van Leuven, and Molly Willingham kept Denison in the hunt with a time 7:29.48.

DU picked up major points in the 200 freestyle as five swimmers competed in the championship final.  The group was led by Costley who clocked in at 1:51.26 en route to a runner-up finish.  Willingham was third in 1:51.67, and Van Leuven took sixth in 1:52.65.  Eighth and ninth places were occupied by Carolyn Kane (1:53.09), and Tully Bradford (1:53.23), respectively.

Senior Natalie Lugg (pictured left) came just shy of her fifth career NCAC title when she placed second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.38.  Bednarek followed in fifth place in 1:05.23, while Taylor Lifka picked up some points with a 14^th place finish.

In the 100 backstroke, Willingham and Yearwood went 3-4 while Claire Van Fossen took eighth and Garbarino was 12^th. Willingham touched in 56.32, while Yearwood finished in 56.79.

Denison's fourth point-grab of the night would come in the 100 fly where four represented the Big Red in the championship final.  Van Fossen took fifth in 57.29 to lead the group while Garbarino finished sixth, followed by Nuess and Lifka in places 8-9, respectively.

DU will be back in action tomorrow for preliminaries that begin at 10 a.m. with finals following at 6:30 p.m.  Saturday's events include the 1650 freestyle, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, women's 1-meter dive and the 400 freestyle relay.