KINGSTON, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's swimming & diving team opened up competition in the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Division III Championships on Thursday evening.

The Bears' 800 freestyle relay featuring junior Abbie Grant (Mansfield, Mass.), sophomore Danielle Souza (Mansfield, Mass.), junior Amanda Brennan (Waltham, Mass.) and sophomore Nicole Moneghan (Lincoln, Mass.) posted a time of 8:30.98 to place ninth in the event.

The four-day championship event continues on Sunday morning with the preliminary round getting underway at ten.