The women's swimming and diving team broke its two-meet losing streak by beating the Boston University Lady Terriers and the Brown University Lady Bruins this weekend.

The Lady Lions (7-3) downed the Lady Terriers on Friday, 160-80, but on Saturday were neck and neck with the Lady Bruins until the final event of the meet, the 400-meter freestyle relay.

The teamwork of Penn State's Jill Fretz, Tracey Sheleheda, Christy Rourke and Kristen Lilly won the event (3:33.24), making the final score 153-147.

"At our full strength we should have been able to beat (Brown) on paper," Assistant Coach Bruce Bronston said. "That's the way we figure out who is the favorite, we compare team averages. I'd hate to use the word 'surprised,' but it was a really exciting meet.

"At the beginning of the meet, Brown was actually blowing us out of the water. It was a total team effort, and a big emotional lift for the team."

This is the first time that Lady Lions have ever beaten the Bruins in their pool.

"Brown's pool has never been kind to us," Coach Bob Krimmel said last week. "We wanted to put an end to the losing streak in their pool."

Individually, Lilly won three events: the 50 freestyle (24.32), 100 freestyle (52.16) and 200 freestyle (1:51.72).

Kristen Elias won her 23rd consecutive 200 butterfly (2:06) and the 100 butterfly (58.14). Lisa Maximo placed first in the 200 backstroke (2:12.02), and Beth Fahey won the one-meter diving.

Fretz battled her way to first place in the 500 freestyle (5:03.54). Two Bruin swimmers quickly followed her with times of 5:03.58, and 5:03.68.

"The other two swimmers were in front of Jill until the last 200," Bronston said. "Then Jill pulled in front of them and won. It was a very exciting event."

Friday's win brought Penn State's record against Boston to 6-0. The Lady Lions were the favorites going into the meet.

"It's a very good weekend when you know unless it is a major catastrophe that you're going to win (against Boston)," Bronston said. "Boston University is not a real tough meet for us. We changed our lineup around a lot. It was a meet that we could play around with, so no one gets stale."

The Lady Lions will be competing at Syracuse this Saturday and then will swim their first home meet in almost a month against Maryland Sunday.