Dec. 11, 2001

Los Angeles, CA. -- The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Lions took first place at the CMS Winter Invitational on the Campus of Claremont -Mudd Scripps over last weekend to end their three-year winless streak.

Some highlights of the weekend include the LMU "A" team in the 200 freestyle relay placing first with a time of 1:41.49. That team was comprised of Alana Austin, Jessica Conner, Lauren Powers, and Tiffany Yates. The "B" team in the same event placed fourth with a time of 1:44.88, which Bayley Diamond, Christina O'Neill, Mandy Mooers and Kristin Vesnaver posted in the event.

Breanne Melconian took third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:21.70. Krista Zabor was another top swimmer in the invitational as she placed first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:13.59, a full second faster than the second-place finisher from Claremont. Zabor also took the top spot in the 400 IM posting a time of 4:41.50. Marie Walters took fourth in that event with a time of 2:18.57.

Tiffany Yates and Lauren Powers took first and second for the 50-yard freestyle with times of 25.08 and 25.10, respectively. The two Lions tied for a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle with times of 55.82.

Austin, Zabor, Powers, and Yates made up the Lions' "A" team for the 400-yard medley relay, taking first place with a time of 4:19.18, a full four seconds faster than the second-place finishers from CMS.

The Lions will enjoy the rest of this year off before hosting Nevada-Reno on January 7 at the Burns Aquatics Center in a dual meet scheduled for 11:00 a.m.