Houston Swimming and Diving Falls at Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – University of Houston senior diver Yulia Pakhalina wrapped up the 2003 regular season Saturday in the same way that she began it – with a pair of wins.

Pakhalina, a three-time NCAA national champion, was the Cougars’ leading scorer against Texas A&M in an NCAA dual meet, taking top honors on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. However, it would not be enough as the 23rd-ranked Aggies took a 173-115 win over the Cougars.

With the loss, UH dropped to 3-8 overall in dual meets this season. The Cougars will now enjoy a lengthy break before returning to action at the Conference USA Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 23-25.

Pakhalina was the only diver to score more than 300.00 points in each event and won by a combined average of nearly 80.00 points. The wins were the 57th and 58th of her distinguished career in 60 all-time outings.

Redshirt freshman diver Azul Almazan also contributed to the Cougars’ scoring on the day, sweeping third both in both diving events.

The Aggies won the first relay event of the day and then placed 1-2 in each of the first five swimming events to take a commanding lead. In addition, Texas A&M placed first in all 12 individual swimming events.

Senior Falon Hopkins, competing in the last regular-season meet of her career, was the Cougars’ leading swimmer as she earned a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.53.