BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has announced its weekly awards and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden was recognized. The senior garnered Swimmer of the Week honors for the third straight week, and the fifth time this season, after an outstanding effort in a 153-140 win over Simmons.

The Raleigh, N.C., native was critical in the Lyons 153-140 victory over Simmons as MHC handed the Sharks (10-2) just their second loss of the season. She won the 1,000-yard free in a time of 10:29.38, surpassing the runner-up by nearly a full minute. Pruden then captured victory in the 500-yard free, touching the wall in 5:20.76.

Pruden then grabbed her third individual win in the 200-yard individual medley, achieving a mark of 2:14.39. Her speed shined though in the last and critical event, the 200-yard free relay. Neck-and-neck with Simmons, Pruden's anchor leg pushed the Lyons ahead by half-a-body length to claim the win, in 1:41.64 to the Sharks time of 1:42.69, and earn the meet victory.

This is the fifth NEWMAC honor of the season for Pruden, who was tabbed on November 3rd following a nine-victory week. She was also honored on December 7th after posting three NCAA B Cuts, three pool records, three meet records and six wins third at the Hamilton Invitational, while garnering honors on January 19th following a six-win week to help the Lyons go 3-1. Pruden was also the conference's honoree on January 25th after finishing as the only swimmer with four individual victories, as well as a relay win, at the 2016 Seven Sisters Championship.

A former standout at the Ravenscroft School, Pruden has posted 34 victories this season, including at least three wins in each meet. She is currently among the top swimmers in the nation in four different events. She ranks fifth in Division III in the 400-IM and is also seventh in the 200-IM. Additionally, Pruden is 18th in the nation in the 1650-free and 26th in the 200-breast.

Mount Holyoke returns to the pool for its final dual meet of the season on Saturday, traveling to Northampton for a 1pm contest at Smith College.

Action photo of Pruden at Seven Sisters courtesy of Kenneth Chung.