In the final racing test before returning to Indiana for Big Ten Championships, the No. 14 Penn State women's swimming team used strong performances from a core group of swimmers to defeat the No. 19 Hoosiers, 211-158.

The Nittany Lions (5-1, 1-0 Big Ten) won 11 of 18 events in the two-day meet and had nine different swimmers achieve NCAA "B" cut qualifying times. Holding a slight 84-62 advantage on Friday, the team rallied for eight victories on Saturday to preserve the win. Though winning only three events on Friday, the Lions were able to swim to the majority of their cut times.

"We wanted to swim well going into it because we've always had a small rivalry with Indiana," senior Kristen Woodring said. "I feel like we won close races and did all the small things. We weren't gonna be surprised by anything."

Strong performances from several swimmers may give some insight as to how primed the Lions are for Big Ten Championships. Woodring led the way, chalking up four victories and two "B" cuts. Senior Deirdre Dlugonski and junior Amberle Biedermann contributed three wins and one "B" cut apiece.

Woodring, Dlugonski, Biedermann and junior Sarah Haupt made up the medley relay team that won both the 200- and 400-yard events in 1:42.43 and 3:47.36, respectively. Their performance in the 200-yard medley was good enough to earn a "B" cut, clearing the qualifying time of 1:42.89.

In addition to the medley relay wins, Woodring swept the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events, in times of 1:02.28 and 2:18.96, respectively. She and senior Courtney Stanchock, with a time of 1:03.82, earned "B" cuts in the 100-yard event.

Distance freestyle swimmers also had a good day, as a trio of Lions achieved "B" cuts in the 1,650-yard freestyle event. Sophomore Margy Keefe, who won the event in 16:29.69, was followed by sophomore Nikki Collins and junior Patty Murphy with times of 16:37.18 and 16:51.93, respectively. Keefe also garnered a win and "B" cut in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:50.93.

"I wasn't really expecting to swim as well as I did," Keefe said, adding that her coach told her, "Just don't let anyone from Indiana beat you."

"[My coach] didn't really care what the times were," Keefe said.

Sophomore Lauren Preyss accounted for mid-distance freestyle success, winning both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, in 51.27 and 1:49.76, earning "B" cuts in both events.

Despite the swimming success of the Lions, Penn State divers Alison Riccobono and Corey Pagnotta were bested in uncharacteristic fashion. With either one placing first in most every diving event this season, neither finished better than third in this meet.

Riccobono finished fifth in the 1-meter competition (243.03) and third in the 3-meter (313.95). Meanwhile, Pagnotta finished sixth (239.25) and fifth (276.68) in the same events.

Swimming this meet in the same pool that will host Big Ten Championships should give the Lions an edge in terms of familiarity, in addition to the edge that they have from being a complete team.

"This year, it's just amazing. Across the board, we're strong." Woodring, a fifth-year senior, said. "This is probably my first year where we don't have a weak area."