KINGSTON, R.I. -- Bridgewater State University sophomore Mackenzie Coogan (Assonet, Mass.), senior Abbie Grant (Mansfield, Mass.) and juniors Danielle Souza (Mansfield, Mass.) and Haley Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) set the school record in the 800 freestyle relay during the opening night of the 2018 New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships held on Thursday at the URI Tootell Aquatic Center.

The foursome placed fifth in the event with a time of 8:13.71 as they eclipsed the previous BSU standard of 8:16.76 set in 2006 by Lindsay Devereaux, Jillian Coache, Sarah Fuller and Meaghan Thomas.

The BSU women's squad is in fifth place in the team standings with 50 points after day one. Simmons College leads the way with 64 points, while Roger Williams University (56 Pts.) and Eastern Connecticut State University (54 Pts.) round out the top three.

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