Jan. 24, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. - Despite dealing with numerous injuries, the Northwestern women's swimming and diving team put forth one of its best efforts of the season last Saturday in handling 24th-ranked Tennessee. One week later, the Wildcats look to carry the momentum of the victory into a Big Ten showdown with another ranked opponent-No. 19 Michigan.

NU and the Wolverines will square off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Norris Aquatics Center. The 'Cats bring a 6-3 overall dual meet record and a 1-3 Big Ten mark into the matchup, while Michigan boasts a record of 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

Behind the efforts of Paige Nath (Wichita, Kan./Trinity Academy), who set career-best times in winning two individual events and was a member of four winning relay squads, the Wildcats won 14 of 19 events. For her efforts, Nath was named Northwestern Female Athlete of the Week.

It will be the next to last dual meet of the season for Northwestern, which also hosts Ohio State on Feb. 1.

Meanwhile, the Northwestern men aim to build on a dominating 194-96 victory over Illinois-Chicago last Friday when it travels to Notre Dame Saturday for a 2 p.m. dual with the Fighting Irish at the Rolfs Aquatics Center.

The Wildcats snapped a six-meet dual skid with the victory over the Flames to improve to 3-6. Northwestern won 13 of 16 events against UIC. Notre Dame brings a 5-5 dual meet record into the clash.

The teams share three common opponents this season. Both teams lost to Purdue and Pittsburgh. Northwestern fell to Michigan State, while the Irish defeated the Spartans.

Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Preparatory) leads the 'Cats, having posted victories in the 100 and 200 butterfly against UIC. The senior holds the nation's 16th-fastest time in the 200 fly and the 17th-fastest in the 100 fly.