NCAA Div. I Women: Northwestern Splits, Beating Tennessee but Losing to Auburn
EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 13. IN their first meet in almost a month, the 16th-ranked Northwestern women's swimming and diving squad experienced split results.
The Wildcats defeated Tennessee, 234-118, but fell to third-ranked Auburn, 186-159. NU is now 2-2-1 in dual
meets this year.
The meet was divided into two sessions with all three teams swimming together in the morning and evening sessions. The scores were then split into three separate dual meets. Auburn defeated Tennessee in the
other match up, 207-138.
Vicky West (Redlands, Calif./Redlands) was the 'Cats only individual winner. West took top honors in the 1650 freestyle with a season-best time of 16:49.30. She led a 1-3 showing by NU in the event. Stephanie
Cranston (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute CD) placed second (17:04.61) and Erica Rose was right behind her in third (17:08.69).
NU also picked up a win in the final race of the evening, the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Megan Keefe (Blowing Rock, N.C./Watauga), Carmen Cosgrove (Perth, Western Australia), Erin Swanson (Florrissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) and Merritt Adams (Norcross, Ga./The Lovett School) touched in 3:28.33, which was over four seconds faster than second-place Tennessee.
The Wildcats were able to stay close to Auburn all day by taking 12 second place and eight third place finishes. NU also beat the Lady Vols in all but one event.
Auburn swept all events except the 400 free relay in which they only swam exhibition teams.
The 'Cats will wrap up the home season next Saturday when they play host to Big Ten rival Penn State at 1 p.m.