MADISON, Wis. — The No. 12 Wisconsin women's rowing team went head to head with No. 1 Brown at the Lake Natoma Invitational on Saturday, and fared well against the nation's top team in three races.
 
Facing Brown and Loyola Marymount in their morning session races, the Badgers grabbed a win in the varsity four and took second to the Bears in the varsity eight and second varsity eight, missing out on first-place finishes by a combined three seconds.
 
UW followed up the strong morning session with three more challenging races against No. 7 Stanford and No. 18 Notre Dame, posting a pair of second place finishes in the varsity eight and varsity four behind the Cardinal.
 
"We were really pleased with today's performance across the board," UW head coach Bebe Bryans said. "I think the morning races were really solid and strong. Everybody was pretty happy with the results, and the speed was good for all three boats."
 
In the Badgers victory in the morning session, the varsity four boat finished in 7:07.81, while Brown finished a distant second in 7:15.98.
 
The Badgers nearly pulled off a win in the varsity eight race, completing the 2000-meter course in 6:21.44, which was a little more than one second behind Brown. LMU rounded out the three-boat race in third in a time of 6:52.94.
 
The Badgers completed the morning session with a second-place finish behind Brown in the second varsity eight, posting a time of 6:32.89, just two seconds off the Bears.
 
"In the afternoon races, I think we were just a little bit rocky. We were a little bit tired coming into the afternoon, and that's the way we raced," Bryans said. "But overall, it was a really great learning experience for us in the afternoon, and we're looking forward to getting back tomorrow to the racing and putting into play what we learned from the afternoon."
 
The lone first place finish for UW in the afternoon session came via the UW's freshman eight boat in its only race of the day. Wisconsin finished in 6:45.84, almost 10 seconds faster than second-place Stanford, to advance to Sunday's grand final.
 
In the varsity eight race, Wisconsin came in four seconds behind Stanford for second place in 6:28.73. UW's varsity four also took second, clocking in a 7:27.82, five seconds off of Stanford's pace.
 
Wisconsin's second varsity eight was the only boat to finish lower than second during the day, as it took third in 6:42.73 in the afternoon session.
 
"It was a good day, strong day with some fast times, and we're really excited about that," Bryans said. "We're excited to get back at it tomorrow."
 
Each of Wisconsin's four boats that raced in the afternoon session on Saturday will take to the water on Sunday morning in Gold River, California. Wisconsin's frosh eight will race first at 10:10 a.m. CT, while the Badgers final race will be the varsity eight at 11:35 a.m. CT.
 
 
Lake Natoma Invitational
April 16, 2016
Lake Natoma
Gold River, Calif.
2000 meters
 
Morning Session:
 
Varsity Eight
1. Brown, 6:20.30; 2. Wisconsin, 6:21.44; 3. Loyola Marymount, 6:52.94
UW Lineup – Coxswain Lily Hansen, Maria Schmid, Hannah Schwartz, Anna Knutson, Lexi Siverling, Maddie Wanamaker, Gillian Cooper, Brianna Dahm, Kaitlin McKeogh
 
Second Varsity Eight
1. Brown, 6:30.48; 2. Wisconsin, 6:32.89; 3. Loyola Marymount, 7:05.86
UW Lineup – Coxswain Kate Condon, Gabby Simons, Margo Grover, Callie Hebert, Megan Whitehouse, Sophia Vitas, Dani Steinberg, Marissa Gibson, Janie French

Varsity Four
1. Wisconsin, 7:07.81; 2. Brown, 7:15.98; 3. Loyola Marymount, 8:02.85
UW Lineup – Coxswain Rosie Brezynski, Maren Schultz, Morganne Freeman, Claire Scott, Monica Gerber
 
Afternoon Session:
 
Varsity Eight
1. Stanford, 6:24.06; 2. Wisconsin, 6:28.73; 3. Notre Dame, 6:36.43
UW Lineup – Coxswain Lily Hansen, Maria Schmid, Hannah Schwartz, Anna Knutson, Lexi Siverling, Maddie Wanamaker, Gillian Cooper, Brianna Dahm, Kaitlin McKeogh
 
Second Varsity Eight
1. Stanford, 6:37.26; 2. Notre Dame, 6:39.35; 3. Wisconsin, 6:42.73
UW Lineup – Coxswain Kate Condon, Gabby Simons, Margo Grover, Callie Hebert, Megan Whitehouse, Sophia Vitas, Dani Steinberg, Marissa Gibson, Janie French

Varsity Four
1. Stanford, 7:22.14; 2. Wisconsin, 7:27.82; 3. Notre Dame, 7:47.01
 UW Lineup – Coxswain Rosie Brezynski, Maren Schultz, Morganne Freeman, Claire Scott, Monica Gerber

Third Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:45.84; 2. Stanford, 6:55.05; 3. Sacramento State, 8:01.22
UW Lineup – Coxswain Jane Merriman, Alicia Evans, Renee Olley, Allison Morrison, Sarah Roe, Sarah Gibbons, Dominca Wardell, Grace Armstrong, Maddie Brunett