ST. LOUIS – Freshman Libby Howell was named the Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week thanks to a record-breaking victory against SEC member Missouri and three top-three finishes against Drury University, announced by the league on Tuesday.
 
The newcomer took down the No. 17 Missouri Tigers in the 1000 freestyle, where she snapped a 12-year, Hammons Student Center pool record in the process. Her time of 10:01.67 serves as the new program record and is four seconds faster than the previous record set back in 2012. After the weekend, the Bixby, Okla., native sits 67^th in the nation and leads the Missouri Valley Conference in the in the 1000 free. Earlier in the week, she garnered two second-place finishes in the 200 and 1000 free against Drury, who ranks first in the nation in Division II, as well as a third-place swim in the 500 free.
 
The women's swimming and diving team will return to action on Feb. 14-17 at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships, where the squad will defend its 2017 conference title. For all the latest information on the Missouri State swimming and diving team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MoStateSwim on Twitter.