SPORTS BRIEF: Women’s swimming’s unbeaten streak snapped at 25 by Rutgers

The Harvard women’s swimming and diving team suffered its first dual-meet defeat in almost three years, losing 169-129, at No. 22 Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. on Friday.

The loss, which dropped the Crimson’s record to 5-1, was the squad’s first in a dual meet since the 2003-2004 season finale against Princeton.

Freshman Alexandra Clarke continued her impressive rookie campaign with first-place finishes in both the 500 and 1, 000-yard freestyle. Junior diver Samantha Papadakis also nabbed two wins, topping the standings in the one-meter and three-meter events.

Harvard also received first-place points from seniors LeeAnn Chang and Noelle Bassi, and junior Lindsay Hart in the 200-yard individual medley, the 200 butterfly, and the 200 backstroke, respectively.

The team had been inactive for over a month prior to squaring off versus the Scarlet Knights, and was only two days removed from a training expedition to Puerto Rico.

The Crimson gets its first chance to start a new streak when it hosts nonleague New Hampshire at Blodgett Pool on Jan. 26.

Then comes the all-important H-Y-P meet against rivals Yale and Princeton on Feb. 2-3 to determine Ivy League supremacy.