NIU’s women’s golf team faced some very important challenges April 3 and 4, and the results were positive.

The challenge: perform as good as possible in back-to-back dual matches at the Lakewood Country Club in New Orleans, La.

The result: a solid performance over host Tulane University on both occasions.

NIU carded a 71-stzoke victory over Tulane in Monday’s first match.

The Huskies were led by Nicole Jeray’s eight over-par 82. NIU finished within the top five individual scorers. Cindy Watson’s 83, good for second place, was followed by Chantel Scherer’s 87 and Jennifer Hall’s 93.

Tulane Brenda Wikjord broke the NIU scoring tide with a third-place(18-hole 85.

If the 71-stroke dual match win pleased NIU coach Pam Tyska, she musv have been overwhelmed with happiness after the following day’s 83-stroke victory over Tulane.

Behind Jeray’s spring-best 18-hole two-over-par 76, the Huskies carded a 326 four-player total compared to Tulane’s 409.

Scherer followed that mark with 82, while Cindy Watson remained close behind with 83. This helped complete a Huskie sweep of the first three finishers.

Jenny Mellinger, who withdrew from Monday’s competition due to illness, ended with 85. Hall finished with 86.

“I think all five players who made the trip lowered scores from Monday to Tuesday and got some solid playing time in,” said Tyska. “Nicole’s 76 is the best 18-hole total she’s had since the mid-October Huskie Classic.”

For the second consecutive day, Tulane’s top scorer was Wikjord. She finished with a 10-over-par 84.