Maybe Winona State brings out the best in Northern Illinois gymnast Lori Lebo.
Last year, she tied her school vault record of 9.7 against the Minnesota school, and Saturday she bettered it with a 9.75 effort as the Huskies breezed to a triangular victory over Winona and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Northern fell just short of coach Bobbie Cesarek`s goal for the meet of 185.80, scoring 185.30. Winona scored 179.20 and Oshkosh had 171.45. The Huskies won each event. Vicki Thimgan took all-round (37.35); Nickie Pedicini had a 9.70 on the uneven bars; Sheryl Kurowski won on the balance beam with a 9.60; and Dayna Lai had a 9.45 in floor exercise.
Cesarek`s ultimate goal is a score of 187, which the Huskies need to qualify for the NCAA tournament. NIU plays host to Iowa State at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Block party: Coach Jane Albright-Dieterle`s women`s basketball team blocked 14 shots in its 78-61 loss to defending national champion Tennessee last Friday, one shy of the school record. Cindy Conner and Dianna Wingas had four apiece. ”That`s the best defensive effort played at Northern Illinois,”
Albright-Dieterle said after the game.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt couldn`t remember ever having that many shots blocked against her team.
The difference in the game, according to Albright-Dieterle, was rebounding (Tennessee held a 52-38 edge) and fouls (the Vols made 21 free throws to NIU`s 7).
”That`s our Achilles` heel, and the team knows it,” Albright-Dieterle said of the Huskies sending the opposition to the line too often. ”We can`t be a good team if we continue to do that.”