STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 17, 2000 -- Penn State softball team members Karen Gulini (Easton, Pa.) and Gina Bianchini (Pottstown, Pa.) have been selected to the 2000 Great Lakes All-Region Teams. Gulini was named first-team All-Region, while Bianchini was recognized with second-team All-Region status.

Gulini, who earned second-team All-Region honors following the 1998 season, has put together her best collegiate season during her junior year of eligibility. The right fielder leads the Big Ten with a .405 batting average. She has posted a team-high 60 hits while stealing a career-high 27 bases this season. Gulini hit safely in a team-best 20 straight games from March 25-April 4 and is currently riding a team-high eight-game hitting streak. She ranks among the nation's leaders in batting average (45th) and stolen bases (20th). The Easton, Pa., native was recently honored with first-team All-Big Ten status in addition to being named to the GTE Academic All-District squad.

Bianchini shattered the Penn State single-season stolen base record with 42. She ranks seventh nationally with an average of 0.77 steals per game. The sophomore center fielder is tied with Gulini for second-place on the school's career stolen base chart with 70. She is currently hitting .333 with a team-high 38 runs scored. Bianchini also was honored as a first team All-Big Ten selection.

Coach Robin Petrini's squad is enjoying the best season in school history, posting an overall record of 37-17, which is a school record for wins. The Nittany Lions qualified for their first NCAA Tournament since 1985, selected as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Regional being held in Tempe, Ariz. The Lions open regional play on Thursday, May 18 when they battle No. 4 seed Texas A&M (32-21) at 3:00 p.m. MST (6:00 EDT) in the six-team, double-elimination event.