The 14th-ranked Minnesota women's swimming and diving team took a slim eight-point lead after the first day of the Big Ten Championship meet at the IUPUI Natatorium.

The Gophers scored 174 points in the first six events to lead Michigan (166), Northwestern (156) and Wisconsin (135). Minnesota had a similar first day in winning its 1999 Big Ten championship, scoring 181.5 points to lead by 15 points.

"I'm thrilled to leading after the first day," said Minnesota head coach Jean Freeman. "We had several athletes perform extremely well today. It is going to be a very close meet for the entire three days."

The Gophers took the lead in the 1-meter diving event. Rachel Degener scored 391.00 points to finish fourth, and Tracy LaVoi finished eighth with 373.55 points.

Minnesota placed four swimmers in the top ten of the 200 individual medley. Katy Christoferson broke a 10-year-old school record by finishing third in 2:02.03. Emilly Deppe came in fourth place at 2:03.23, Terri Jashinsky followed in seventh place at 2:03.87, and Jinny Smedstad was 10th in 2:04.17.

Smedstad led Minnesota's effort in the 500 freestyle, finishing third in 4:48.84. First-year swimmer Dana Baum came in fifth with a time of 4:50.60.

Minnesota's 400 medley relay team of Deppe, Kelsey Hegener, Jashinsky and Jenny Hennen placed third in 3:43.13. The Gopher 200 free relay of Meghan Sonstegard, Amy Cottrill, Christoferson and Jashinsky finished fifth in a time of 1:32.95. Minnesota scored eight points in the 50 freestyle, led by Sonstegard's 10th-place finish in 23.43.

The 2000 Big Ten Championships continue Friday with swimming preliminaries at 10 a.m., diving preliminaries at noon, and finals at 6 p.m.

Women's Swimming and Diving 2000 Big Ten Championships - IUPUI Natatorium, Indianapolis TEAM SCORES - Gophers 174, Michigan 166, Northwestern 156, Wisconsin 135, Indiana 117, Penn State 114, Ohio State 66, Iowa 64, Illinois 60, Purdue 57, Michigan State 49. 200 Free Relay - 1. Michigan, 1:31.04; 2. Northwestern, 1:31.09; 3. Indiana, 1:32.52; 4. Penn State, 1:32.55; 5. Gophers (Sonstegard, Cottrill, Christoferson, Jashinsky), 1:32.95; 6. Wisconsin, 1:33.06; 7. Iowa, 1:34.12; 8. Purdue, 1:34.15. 500 Freestyle - 1. Ellen Stonebreaker, Wisconsin, 4:46.69; 2. Melissa Loehandorf, Iowa, 4:47.21; 3. Jinny Smedstad, Gophers, 4:48.84; 4. Katie Anderson, Penn State, 4:49.62; 5. Dana Baum, Gophers, 4:50.60; 6. Jenay Karlson, Michigan, 4:50.80; 7. Jamie Belfor, Wisconsin, 4:51.51; 8. Mara Sveum, Michigan, 4:53.37. 200 Individual Medley - 1. Shannon Shakespeare, Michigan, 1:57.66; 2. Amy Balcerzak, Northwestern, 2:00.56; 3. Katy Christoferson, Gophers, 2:02.03; 4. Emily Deppe, 2:03.23; 5. Amy Munz, 2:03.33; 6. Tasha Kulka, 2:03.62; 7. Terri Jashinsky, Gophers, 2:03.87; 8. Gina Panighetti, Wisconsin, 2:03.90; 10. Jinny Smedstad, Gophers, 2:04.17. 50 Freestyle - 1. Courtney Allen, Northwestern, 22.58; 2. Jennifer Cristy, Indiana, 22.65; 3. Jennifer Crisman, Michigan, 22.79; 4. Piper Chamberlin, Penn State, 23.24; 5. Lauren Moore, Northwestern, 23.37; 6. Dominique Diezi, 23.39; 7. Dianne Oliver, Michigan State, 23.40; 8. Missy Sugar, Michigan, 23.74; 10. Meghan Sonstegard, Gophers, 23.43; 16. Amy Cottrill, Gophers, 23.82. 1-Meter Diving - 1. Carrie Ziebarth, Ohio State, 412.50; 2. Sara Reiling, Indiana, 406.65; 3. Melanie Johnson, Ohio State, 403.95; 4. Rachel Degener, Gophers, 391.00; 5. Megan Kernan, Wisconsin, 390.80; 6. Summer Mitchell, Michigan State, 385.40; 7. Holly Underwood, Ohio State, 377.85; 8. Tracy LaVoi, Gophers, 373.55. 400 Medley Relay - 1. Michigan, 3:39.80; 2. Northwestern, 3:40.52; 3. Gophers (Deppe, Hegener, Jashinsky, Hennen), 3:43.13; 4. Wisconsin, 3:44.58; 5. Indiana, 3:45.71; 6. Purdue, 3:46.51; 7. Illinois, 3:48.26; 8. Penn State, 3:47.42.