The top-ranked women's lightweight crew defeated longtime rival Wisconsin in the 2008 regular season finale Saturday morning at Lake Carnegie. The win assured Princeton of a perfect regular season and will send the Tigers into the 2008 postseason as the favorites for the Eastern and IRA titles.

Head coach Paul Rassam watched his squad defeat Wisconsin with a winning time of 7:06.5. The Badgers, who came into the weekend ranked sixth, raced well but fell in a time of 7:11.6. Wisconsin bounced back with a win in the second varsity eight (7:10.8), although Princeton hung close and fell in a close race (7:13.0). The regatta featured eight of the last nine IRA national champions, with only the 2007 Bucknell squad earning an IRA title this decade.

Princeton can now focus on its own chase for gold at the Eastern Sprints (May 18, Cooper River) and the IRA national championships (June 7, Cooper River). Princeton placed second in both grand finals last year.

GoPrincetonTigers.com will have a full preview of both championship races the week of each event.

Saturday's Results, courtesy of Row2K.com

First Varsity: Princeton 7:06.5; Wisconsin 7:11.6

Second Varsity: Wisconsin 7:10.8; Princeton 7:13.0; Wisconsin 1N 7:14.3