The Canisius College women's swimming and diving team returns to action on the road when they face Atlantic 10 opponent Duquesne on Friday, Nov. 19 at the Towers Pool.

This will mark back-to-back seasons, the Golden Griffins and Duquesne have faced each other. Last season, Canisius opened its 2010-11 schedule at the Koessler Athletic Center Pool with a pair of losses to Duquesne, 78-27, and MAAC opponent Siena, 82-29.

The Golden Griffins return to the pool after falling to reigning MAAC champion Marist, 179-118, on Nov. 4 at the Burt Flickinger Center, the site of the 2012 MAAC Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.

In the dual loss, freshman Marissa Oakey set a pair of program records in the 1000 and 500 freestyle events, while fellow freshman Taylor Epstein swept on the diving boards in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.

Oakey led the way for the Golden Griffin women, capturing first place in the 1000 freestyle (10:26.77). In the race, she set the school record for the 1000 freestyle and 500 freestyle, mid-race. As if breaking the 500 freestyle record once wasn't enough, Oakey broke the record again in the actual race in a time of 5:07.02 for first place.

On the diving board, Epstein completed the sweep of both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. In the 1-meter event, Epstein finished with a total score of 187.80 with only four points separating her from Marist's Kimberly Tobias (183.60). Epstein recorded a score of 198.90 to finish with top honors. 

In recent action, the Dukes split a pair of decisions on Nov. 11 at Youngstown State, defeating the host Penguins, 141-96, while falling to Cleveland State, 133.5-91.5. In the meet, the Dukes did not win any of the nine individual races, but they did capture six second place finishes.

Prior to the Dukes' meet with Youngstown State and Cleveland State, the team went on a tour of Western New York, visiting both Little Three opponents St. Bonaventure and Niagara. The Dukes, opened their tour on Nov. 4 with a 134-71 victory over the Purple Eagles.  The next day, the Dukes opened Atlantic 10 action, with a pair of losses, falling to St. Bonaventure, 174-147, and La Salle, 186-142.

For her performances during the Dukes' Western New York visit, sophomore Meghan Smith was named the Atlantic 10 Women's Swimming Performer of the Week after capturing first-place finishes in five individual races.