MALDEN, Mass. -- The No. 1 nationally ranked Bates women's rowing team won its fourth straight, and sixth overall, NESCAC title on Saturday, with the first varsity eight defeating No. 4 Williams and No. 2 Hamilton to capture the championship. 

Led by senior coxswain Elizabeth Folsom (San Mateo, Calif.) and senior stroke Catharine Berry-Toon (Andover, N.J.), the 1V took on the Ephs in their heat, racing to the finish in 6:45.9. It was a dominant performance, resulting in an open water victory with Williams finishing in 6:57.0.

Then in the grand final, the Bates 1V recorded a time of 6:49.1, good enough to defeat the Continentals for the championship. Hamilton tallied a runner-up time of 6:56.94. 

The Bates first varsity eight remains undefeated on the season, with all eight victories coming on the Malden River. 

Led by senior coxswain Elise Grossfeld (Bethesda, Md.) and sophomore stroke Casey Winter (Malvern, Pa.) the second varsity eight started the day with a seven-second win over Williams, finishing with a time of 7:11 and advancing to the grand final against Hamilton.

The 2V cut nearly four seconds off its time in the grand final, crossing the line in 7:07.2, but the Continentals did emerge with the win, finishing in 7:04.0. 

Nevertheless, the 1V result determined the NESCAC champion, which once again went to Bates.

The Bobcats earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, taking place Friday, May 28 and Saturday May 29 in Sarasota, Fla. Bates has won three consecutive NCAA championships (and four overall), with the most recent coming in 2019. Both the 2020 NESCAC and NCAA Rowing Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Bates WV8 lineup: Bow: Saylor Strugar; 2: Grace Bake; 3: Hannah Beams; 4: Elizabeth Fischer; 5: Lillian Kinder; 6: Sally Harris Porter; 7: Carla Guichard; Stroke: Catharine Berry-Toon; c: Elizabeth Folsom

Bates W2V8 lineup: Bow: Kathleen King; 2: Elizabeth Fairman; 3: Rosie Crawford; 4: Margaret Horvat; 5: Alexa Bowerfind; 6: Molly Connors; 7: Emma York; Stroke: Casey Winter; c: Elise Grossfeld