Bates Women's rowing goes 12-2 vs. Wellesley, Trinity, WPI, Rochester

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Bates women's rowing team lived up to its No. 1 national ranking on Sunday at Lake Quinsigamond, with its top two eights both sweeping against a strong field.

Sunday's five-team regatta included No. 3 Wellesley, No. 6 Trinity, No. 11 WPI and the University of Rochester.

Bates' first varsity eight (WV8) outpaced Wellesley by 2.3 seconds, 6:48.0 to 6:50.3. Trinity was third at 6:55.7, followed by WPI (7:14.4) and Rochester (7:19.4).

The W2V8 race saw Bates' boat again finishing under the 7:00 mark at 6:56.1, 8.6 seconds ahead of runner-up Wellesley (7:04.7). WPI (7:14.7) was third, followed by Trinity and Rochester.

Wellesley won the W3V8 race but Bates was second at 7:22.1 to 7:36.0, followed by Rochester (7:49.9). A rapid fourth novice eights race saw Wellesley edge Bates 7:15.4 to 7:18.3, with WPI third at 7:20.5.

Up next for the Bates rowing teams is the Presidents Cup Regatta at home in Greene, Maine, on April 17 at 9am.