CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois women's swimming and diving team hosted its only home meet of the season tonight at IMPE Pool. It came down to the last race, the 200 freestyle relay, before the Northwestern Wildcats emerged with a 156-144 victory. Illinois is now 4-4 in dual meets this season, 1-3 in the Big Ten.

"It was a great, exciting meet," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "It came down to the last event. Anytime you can go against a great team like Northwestern and swim them that tight you know your doing well. I feel good about where we are right now, and we are making progress. I'm excited for the Big Ten Championships."

Several Illinois swimmers and divers competed well during the meet. Senior Anna Christiansen won the 200 breaststroke with an IMPE Pool record time of 2:17.78. She also swam a lifetime best time of 2:03.65 to win the 200 butterfly. Christiansen won the 200 yard individual medley (2:05.10). Junior Jessica Aveyard also set an IMPE Pool mark. She won the 200 backstroke with the record time of 2:00.09.

Senior Jessica Ohr led the diving corps, winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Ohr scored 243.90 in the 1-meter competition and followed that up with a 217.50 to win the 3-meter event.

Diving coach Josh Seykora was pleased with the performances off all of the divers. "It was the best overall competition by all of them," Seykora said. " The consistency, the attitude and all of the little things went well tonight. I saw a lot of really good things that we've been working on."

Freshman Crystal McAdam also recorded some winning times. The Decatur-native took top honors in both the 200 free (1:52.34) and the 100 free (52.83).

The Illini travel to Madison, Wis. for the Big Ten Quad meet Jan. 26-27.

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