NEW YORK - The Drew University women's fencing team moved closer to its first-ever 40-win season with a 4-3 showing at the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Championships on Sunday at Hunter College.

The day featured a major turn in fortunes. After losing the two opening rounds to Vassar College (14-13) and Stevens (22-5), the Rangers snapped back to win the next four in a row against Yeshiva (27-1), CCNY (23-4), Hunter (24-3) and Haverford (16-11) before losing their final round to eventual conference champion Johns Hopkins (23-4).

The 4-3 showing raised the women's season record to 39-7. This is the third-consecutive year in which the women's team has hit the 39-win mark.  

Top performers in the dual-meet portion of the EWFC Championships were foilists Caitlin Kotz (16-5) and Lydia Segal (16-5) and Saberists Emily Huber (13-3), Kayla Ogden (12-4) and Emily Jones (11-4). Kotz's day included her 350th career dual-meet foil victory. Meanwhile, sophomore Emily Huber earned her 150th career win in saber while freshman Grace McCarthy recorded her 50th career dual-meet victory in epee.

Following the team dual-meet schedule, the conference conducted its individual championships. Once again, top performances were turned in by Kotz, Segal, Ogden, Huber and Jones. Both Kotz and Segal were named EWFC Foil First Team All-Conference.  Ogden, Huber and Jones claimed EWFC Saber Second Team All-Conference honors.

The women's team will make a push for its first-ever 40-win season when the team completes its regular season schedule on Sunday at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Invitational in Hackensack, N.J. Their scheduled opponents include Tufts University, host FDU, Brandeis University, Wagner College, NJIT and NYU.  

"The Women's team has shown consistency. We have a very good shot at getting that elusive 40th victory – and maybe a lot more – next weekend," added Paragano. "It would be great to have both the men's and the women's teams get over that plateau for the first time each in the same year. The players have worked hard and their records reflect it."

Following the FDU Invitational, the Women's team will host the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association Championships at Simon Forum on March 2 before participating in the NCAA Regional Championships at Lafayette on March 9.