March 26, 2002

Edison, NJ---The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) office named 65 athletes to the 2002 MAAC Women's Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team, it was announced on February 21st, 2002. To receive accolades, honorees must complete two semesters at their collegiate institution, and hold a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.200.

Four Red Foxes were members of this year's team, including Karen Finnerty (Midland Park, NJ), Alyson Fiorillo (Pottsville, PA), Missy Gifford (Glens Falls, NY), and Maureen Perdue (Rochester, NY).

At this season's MAAC Championships, Finnerty placed second in the 1,650, third in the 1,000, and sixth in the 500-yard freestyles. In addition, she qualified for her second ECAC Championship meet. Fiorillo was third in the 100-yard butterfly, seventh in the 200-yard butterfly, and also was a member of the winning, school record setting, 200-yard medley relay. Fiorillo also qualified for her second ECAC Championship. In her first season with the Red Foxes, Gifford captured the winning crown in the 1-meter dive, and also finished fourth in the 3-meter. She also met qualification standards for ECAC's. Perdue placed 11th in the 100-yard backstroke and was 13th in the 200-yard backstroke for Marist.

The Red Foxes were victorious at this season's MAAC Championship, earning their fifth team conference title, regaining it from 2001 champion Rider, who finished third this year. At the 2002 ECAC Championships, held at the University of Pittsburgh, Marist finished 15th overall, sending 11 athletes to the competition. The Red Foxes also finished the dual meet season with a 7-5 record, improving on their 6-7 record from last season. In addition, nine new school records were set on the year.