The women's swimming and diving team marched onto the deck of McCoy Natatorium chanting. The Pittsburgh Panthers entered the natatorium in rigid formation. Not a word was said as the swimmers made their way to the starting blocks.

The captain of the Lady Panthers held a coffin in her hands, and in the coffin was a Nittany Lion. She dumped the lion onto the floor and her team cheered.

The TV lights added to the tension, casting an eerie glow on the walls of the natatorium. The Penn State-Pitt rivalry was on display for the WPSX cameras.

The Lady Lions and Lady Panthers put on a show. The lead switched back and forth, but the Lady Lions prevailed, 160-140.

"It was weird. (The cameras) being there helped to pump us up a little bit," freshman Jennifer Wilson said. "But we were pumped up anyway."

"I don't think it hurt," Coach Bob Krimmel said of the television coverage. "But it wasn't an advantage for either team."

The meet started with an edge for the Lady Lions; it was Parents' Day and All-American Day, and the stands were packed.

Sophomore Beth Haas, junior Kristin Lilly, senior Denise Sonntag, and graduate Kristin Elias were honored for their participation in last year's NCAA Championships.

The first two events, however, went to the Lady Panthers.

But the Lady Lions battled back in the 200-yard freestyle. Lilly placed first (1:51.71) and freshman Fran McDermid placed second to take the lead.

Pittsburgh won the next two events, the 100 backstroke and the 100 breaststroke, but the Lady Lions came back again with wins in the 200 butterfly and 50 freestyle.

Wilson continued to dominate in the 200 butterfly, winning in 2:05.77. Seniors Kathleen Dick and Jill Fretz placed third and fourth, respectively. Dick recorded a lifetime best and Fretz had never swam the event in competition.

"It was the most intense meet of the year," Wilson said. "It was kind of scary!"

McDermid won the 50 freestyle in 24.39. Jane Kleiderlein and Tracey Sheleheda placed third and fourth, respectively.

Pittsburgh's Krissa Ratliff won the one-meter diving. Lady Lion Amy Schmidt took second, but by the time the event was over the score was tied, 75-75.

Penn State then swept the 100 freestyle, the turning point of the meet. Lilly took first in 52.51 while McDermid and Kleiderlein finished second and third. Score: Lady Lions 91, Lady Panthers 78. From that point on, they never lost the lead.

"The 100 was definitely a big momentum builder," Krimmel said. "There's no way Pitt could have expected that."

Freshman Lori Williams won the next event, the 200 backstroke, in 2:09.56 and brought the Lady Lions to a 105-83 lead.

But the Lady Panthers didn't quit, winning the 200 breaststroke.

Lilly rounded out her triple win by placing first in the next event, the 500 freestyle, in 4:58.80. This propelled the team to a 30-point lead, 128-98. But Krimmel knew his team needed 151 points to guarantee a win.

Pittsburgh still wouldn't quit, winning the next three events, the 100 butterfly, the three-meter diving and the 200 individual medley. Score: Penn State 147, Pittsburgh 136. The last event, the 400 freestyle relay, had come, and a victor had not yet been decided.

The Lady Lions placed first and third in the final relay to edge the Lady Panthers, 160-140, and up their record to 9-1 and move them to second place in the East.

"I knew we'd win it. (The 400 free relay) I had no doubts," Krimmel said.