Ernst Breaks School Record as Panthers Fall to Illinois State 154-146

Saturday, February 27

Cedar Falls, IA

2 PM

University of Northern Iowa

146

154

Illinois State University

Ernst Breaks School Record as Panthers Fall to Illinois State 154-146

2/27/2021 6:22:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

UNI vs Illinois State Results Photo Gallery

Cedar Falls, IA - The first home meet of the season for UNI swimming and diving came down to the wire, while a new school record was broken versus Illinois State. Lily Ernst set a new school record for the Panthers as UNI lost a nail biter to the Redbirds 154-146.

The freshman Ernst broke the school record in the 200 Fly with a time of 2:03.77. Ernst beat the previous record by 0.74 seconds. The record is both UNI and Glen Henry Pool bests.

"Lily's 200 Fly was a really gutsy swim against the fastest returning 200 flyer in the conference from last year," Head Coach Nick Lakin said. "It was also the oldest swimming record we had, so we were excited to have that come down. We have had a lot of swimmers have their eye on taking that down and we want to thank Taylor Ostrowski for putting up such a high standard."

Along with her record breaking 200 Fly, Ernst took first in the 100 Fly (57.06) and had a third place finish in the 400 IM (4:38.19).

Amber Finke also had a big day for the Panthers. The freshman had two individual first place finishes in the 100 Back (55.42) and the 200 Back (1:59.99). She was also on the 200 medley relay team that took first (1:45.77).

Also on the 200 medley relay team was Mia Savicevic who added a win in the 200 Breast (2:19.53) and a second place finish in the 100 Breast (1:04.94).

Clare Christensen, who was on the winning 200 free relay team (1:36.19), also grabbed first in the 50 Free (24.41) and placed third in the 100 Free (53.01).

Senior Anika Lilegard-Bouton took first in the 500 Free (5:08.66), and second in the 1000 Free (10:28.82).

UNI won both relay events. The 200 Medley Relay of Finke, Savecevic, Scout Bergewall, and Lauren Havertape had a time of 1:45.77. The 200 Free Relay of Christensen, Havertape, Taylor Short, and Madeline Webb had a time of 1:36.19.

Second place finishes for the Panthers came from Webb in the 50 Free (24.78), Payton Hall in the 100 Back (58.33), and Sarah Walpole in the 500 Free (5:10.12).

In diving, senior Jayden Lovell placed third in both the 1-meter dive (224.02), and the 3-meter dive (236.47).

In total, the Panthers had nine first place finishes, got second in five events, and placed third six times.

The Panthers look to bounce back from the loss as they host Indiana State at 2pm next Saturday, March 3rd.