Oct. 25, 2002

Fairfax, VA...The defending CAA Conference Champion George Mason women's swimming and diving team started its season off with a 165.5-134.5 win over Navy Saturday afternoon at the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

Christy Anderson (Caledon East, Ontario) won three events for Mason and helped the 200-yard medley relay team to a win, while teammates Stefani Lubore (Ashburn, VA) and Lauren Stinnett (Reston, VA) each picked up a pair of victories. Stinnett was also a member of the victorious medley relay team.

"We picked up a victory, and that's a great way to start the year," said head coach Peter Ward. "This team is better known for peaking at the end of the season, so it's pretty good for us to pick up a win in October."

Anderson made a sweep in the breaststroke, winning both the 100-yard (1:06.94) and 200-yard (2:24.76) events. The sophomore also won the 200-yard IM (2:10.99). She joined forces with Stinnett, Emily Welty (Williamsburg, VA) and Sam Ladeveze (Chesapeake, VA) to capture the 200-yard medley relay (1:49.69).

Ladeveze, a junior, also won the 50-yard free (24.93) and anchored the 200-yard free relay, which finished second (1:40.78).

"Samantha had a great day," commented Ward. "She won the 50 free and she anchored both relays and did a great job for us in those events."

Lubore swept the backstroke events, capturing the 100-yard (1:00.06) and 200-yard (2:11.32) events.

The Patriots other multi-event winner, Stinnett, took the 1000-yard free (10:37.84) and the 200-yard fly (2:05.66).

In diving, the Patriots won both events, with Jamie Downing (Midlothian, VA) taking the 1-meter event (255.90) and Mary Campioli (Falls Church, VA) winning at 3 meters (268.65).

Downing's score also automatically qualified her for the NCAA Zone Championships, a regional meet, which will be held in Bufffalo, NY, March 14-16. The top finishers from that event will proceed to the NCAA Championship.

"It's fantastic, just one meet into the season, she has already qualified for the Zone Championships," said Ward.

The Patriots next meet, which will feature both the men and women, will be Friday, when they host CAA-member Delaware at 5 p.m. William & Mary, also a member of the CAA, will then visit the Aquatic & Fitness center on Saturday for a 1 p.m. meet.

"I'm very excited about this weekend," said Ward. "Because we open up the conference portion of our schedule."