Day Two Results | Team Results | Championship Central
 
COLUMBIA – A repeat freestyle title from Libby Howell and a tight relay finish highlighted the Missouri State women's swimming and diving team's day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships Thursday evening.
 
Howell opened the second day of championship action with a dominant performance in the 500 freestyle, clocking in at 4:50.92. She maintained the lead throughout the race, creating a four-second separation, to easily defend her title in the freestyle event.
 
"I felt confident heading into the event," said Howell. "Our team has been extremely motivating which makes me happy to see."
 
Fellow teammate Leticia Rodrigues created the 1-2 punch for the Bears in the 500 freestyle, placing second with a time of 4:54.67.
 
The Bears earned their second team title of the championships in the 200 freestyle relay, beating UNI by a slim margin of three one hundredths of a second. Anna Miller battled in the final stretch and lifted the Bears to the comeback victory, touching the wall at 1:33.09 to seal the win.
 
"Credit to the team for being competitive," said head coach Dave Collins. "We had a good order and it worked out really well for us."

The Bears lead the pack with 278 points. UNI (199.5) and SIU (186) round out the top three at the end of day two. 

Missouri State placed two in the 200 IM, with Josie Pearson and Sydney Radloff finishing second and fourth, respectively. Pearson battled in a close race and nabbed the runner-up spot at 2:01.62, while Radloff touched the wall about a second later at 2:02.72.
 
In the final individual event of the night, Anna Miller and Loretta Stelnicki both ranked in the top-five finishers for the 50 freestyle. Miller clocked in a half-second shy for second place at 23.12 while Stelnicki garnered fifth with a time of 23.44.
 
On the diving boards, Ashley Yarbrough, Dayana Popa, and Adriana Avila got a spot on the podium. Yarbrough earned fourth with 256.30, Popa claimed sixth at 241.25, and Avila rounded out the divers at seventh with 228.35 points.
 
"We need to start tomorrow as if it's the first session," said Collins. "There is a lot of swimming still to go and we need to stay aggressive."
 
Championship action resumes tomorrow, prelims beginning at 11 a.m. and finals happening at 6 p.m.