OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The No. 15 Wisconsin women's rowing team closed out the first weekend of spring break with a pair of eight races on Melton Hill Lake at the Cardinal Invite on Sunday.
 
The varsity eight finished less than a second behind the crew from No. 7 Yale in 5:43.646. Yale crossed the 2000-meter mark in 5:42.751. No. 20 Minnesota was third in 5:45.741.
 
UW's second varsity eight time of 5:52.625 was third behind Yale (5:49.477) and Minnesota (5:51.484).
 
For results this weekend at the Cardinal Invite, click here. 
 
Straight from the Lake
Head coach Bebe Bryans
On the conditions
"We had another really good day today. Conditions were really nice. It was a little bit warmer and nice and flat. The current was still pretty high, but it was a really good day.
 
On the team's progress
"We are pleased with the way the crews raced. Every race they've been able to learn a little bit more and make some changes. I think the varsity eight – some parts of it were definitely their best, some parts we know that we need to work on.
 
"In the 2V, a little bit of their youth and exuberance came out in that race, but again it was all stuff that we could identify and use not only this week but going forward. It was a great regatta. I'm so glad that we did it, even though it was the beginning of spring break,
 
"I think it was a great jumping off point for everybody and we are really looking forward to getting down to work and getting ready for the next one in a couple of weeks."
 
Up Next: The Badgers travel to the west coast for the Pac-12 Invitational on March 30-31 in Redwood City, California.
 
Cardinal Invite
March 17, 2019
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Melton Hill Lake
2000 meters
 
Varsity Eight
1. Yale, 5:42.751; 2. Wisconsin, 5:43.646; 3. Minnesota, 5:45.741
 UW Lineup – Coxswain Saylor Martin, Allie Lohrenz, Renee Olley, Isa Darvin, Sarah Gibbons, Lauren O'Connor, Katherine Grose, Alicia Evans, Eliza Clifford
 
Second Varsity Eight
1. Yale, 5:49.477; 2. Minnesota, 5:51.484; 3. Wisconsin, 5:52.625
 UW Lineup – Coxswain Emma Smith, Elisabet Pietz, Rebekah Armstrong, Samantha Harris, Taylor Caudle, Carissa Witthuhn, Becca Kite, Grace Joyce, Makayla Stow