Feb. 5, 2001

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University men's and women's swimming and diving teams lost in a dual meet at Eastern Illinois on Sat., Feb. 3. The men fell to 5-5-1 on the season with a 149-106 defeat, while the women dropped to 1-10 in dual meets with the 192-69 result.

On the men's side, seniors Jason Difani (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway West) and Go Ozeni (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Mt. Prospect) led the team to five first-place finishes. Difani continued his mastery of the sprint events with top spots in the 50 free and the 100 fly. His winning time of 52.65 in the fly was the team's lowest mark of the season in that event. Ozeni posted a 1:03.40 in the 100 breast to take first as well. The Billikens also touched first in the 200 free relay and the 200 medley relay races.

For the women, senior Bernie Gartland (Denver, Colo./J.K. Mullen) earned her third first-place ribbon of the season in the 200 back with a time of 2:15.96. Gartland also finished second in the 200 IM with a season-best time of 2:21.05. Freshman Meaghan Hildebrand (Houston, Texas/ St. Agnes Academy) continues to develop as the team's top sprinter, taking second in the 100 free with a time of 58.81.

The Billikens have time off to prepare for the season-ending Midwest Classic, which they will host at the St. Peter's Rec Plex Feb. 22-24.