DALLAS – North Texas swimming and diving competed against the University of Houston and Southern Methodist University on Saturday, falling to both schools in a double-dual meet at the Robson & Lindley Aquatic Center.
 
SMU scored 198 points against North Texas while the Mean Green racked up 101 points. Houston defeated both schools, scoring 229 points against North Texas. The Mean Green's top performer was sophomore Leigh Faires McGee who won two silver medals both in freestyle events. McGee first placed second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.43) before placing second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.73).
 
"[McGee] had a great day," head coach Brittany Roth said. "She's been really holding in on that 200 and 500. We decided to throw her in the 50 free and she really stepped up to the challenge. It was really exciting to watch."

The Mean Green got podium finishes as well from senior Brittany Thurstin in the 50-yard freestyle (24.12) in second and rounded out the day with a third-place finish by the 400-yard freestyle relay team made up of McGee, senior Emmabeth Jensen, freshman Bryanna Vasquez and Thurstin (3:30.52).
 
McGee and Jensen came fourth and fifth respectively in the 50-yard freestyle behind Thurstin.
 
"Overall I thought it was a pretty good meet for us," Roth said. "We got to see in quite a few instances where the girls went similar times from last time but were being more aggressive on the front end. We know it will pay off later once they are rested and have their feet under them."

North Texas placed fourth in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:48.24 boosted by an impressive time from freshman Karigan Stanely, who swam her leg in 24.12. Junior Jowita Sienczyk swam the 100-yard backstroke in 57.59 to come fourth.
 
Senior Meaghan Roussett finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.33. Her twin sister Kathleen finished the same heat in 1:07.79.
 
Junior Averie Ruiz had the team high mark in diving when she scored 219.95 for her 3-meter dive.
 
"We came away from today being smarter about how we are racing," Roth said. "We are really taking a look at how we do small things daily. We got beat sometimes on some small skills, things we should be working on day in and day out. Hopefully walking away with the mindset of how to sharpen those fine little details."
 
The team returns to action on October 27 for the Alumni Green & White meet at the Pohl Rec Center in preparation for the Kansas Classic on Nov. 16-18 in Topeka, Kansas. The divers prepare for the Phill Hansel Invitation that will run concurrent with the Kansas Classic at the University of Houston.